Paris, — June 22, 2026 : A new pan-European defence consortium led by MBDA France has been established to develop an advanced endo-atmospheric counter-hypersonic and anti-ballistic interceptor missile capability for Europe. The initiative, known as the HYDIS2dp Consortium, has been formed in response to a European Union defence tender aimed at strengthening the continent's ability to counter emerging hypersonic and ballistic missile threats.
The consortium builds on previous work conducted under the HYDIS (Hypersonic Defence Interceptor System) programme and expands the effort through the inclusion of additional industrial, academic, and research partners from across Europe. The project seeks to provide European armed forces with a sovereign and technologically advanced missile defence capability capable of addressing rapidly evolving aerial threats.
Large-Scale European Collaboration
Coordinated by MBDA France, the HYDIS2dp Consortium brings together 28 direct partners and 20 subcontractors from 18 European countries. The programme is supported by seven funding nations, reflecting broad European commitment to developing indigenous missile defence technologies.
The consortium combines expertise from major defence manufacturers, research institutions, and specialized technology companies. By pooling resources and knowledge from across Europe, the initiative aims to accelerate the development of critical technologies required for next-generation interception systems.
Supporting the EATMI 2 Defence Initiative
The consortium has been established to respond to the European Union tender designated EDF-2026-DA-ACC-AIRDEF-EATMI, commonly known as EATMI 2 (High-End Endo-Atmospheric Interception). The project forms part of the 2026 European Defence Fund (EDF) programme and is focused on advancing technologies necessary for intercepting hypersonic and ballistic threats within the atmosphere.
The EATMI 2 programme seeks to mature key interceptor technologies up to Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL 6), enabling the transition from research and development toward operational capability. The initiative follows earlier European efforts in hypersonic defence and is intended to close capability gaps in air and missile defence.
Development Roadmap
The HYDIS2dp programme has established an ambitious development timeline designed to rapidly mature critical technologies.
Key milestones include:
- Achievement of Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL 5) within less than two years.
- Completion of a Preliminary Design Review (PDR) by 2029.
- Execution of a fully representative system demonstrator flight test by 2030.
To achieve these objectives, consortium members will develop and validate technologies across several key areas, including interceptor airframe design, propulsion systems, stage and platform separation mechanisms, lethality solutions, threat tracking systems, target acquisition technologies, and guidance functions.
The programme will also focus on dedicated demonstrators for critical subsystem validation, helping reduce technical risk before full-scale system development.
Broad Industrial and Research Participation
The consortium includes several leading European defence companies and technology providers.
Major industrial participants include:
- MBDA France
- MBDA Italy
- Saab
- Safran Electronics & Defense
- Leonardo
- Thales Nederland
Other participating organizations include Avio, DNW, Lynred, Roxel France, SONACA, VZLU, Cenaero, Ecliptic, Weibel, CIRA, Falconers, SCYTALYS, TNO, WITU, Crosshill, GKN Fokker, Novian, Vipo, Cybernetica, ONERA, Skudo, and VKI.
The participation of both established defence primes and specialized research organizations is expected to support the development of advanced technologies required for future missile defence systems.
Strengthening European Missile Defence
The HYDIS2dp programme represents one of Europe's most significant collaborative efforts in the field of counter-hypersonic and anti-ballistic missile defence. As hypersonic weapons continue to emerge as a major security challenge, European nations are increasingly investing in indigenous technologies capable of detecting, tracking, and intercepting high-speed maneuvering threats.
By advancing critical technologies and demonstrating system performance through flight testing, the consortium aims to pave the way for a future operational interceptor capable of protecting European territory, military forces, and strategic infrastructure against next-generation aerial threats.
The project also supports broader European goals of enhancing defence sovereignty, strengthening industrial cooperation, and reducing dependence on non-European missile defence solutions. As the European Defence Fund evaluates proposals under the 2026 programme cycle, the HYDIS2dp Consortium is positioned to play a central role in the development of a unified European counter-hypersonic defence capability.
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