European missile defense against hypersonic targets.
Two projects were presented in Europe to create an endoatmospheric interceptor (within the Earth's atmosphere) against hypersonic missiles. One of them is HYDEF (hypersonic defense), which has already been discussed, and another one is HYDIS (hypersonic defense intercept system). Each project involves several European countries, and some in both.
At the end of the month, the European Commission will select one of the projects for further participation and funding. This is done as part of the EATMI (Endo-Atmospheric Interceptor) program. According to which, the second phase will begin in 2027, the first prototypes will be created in 2030, and the beginning of mass production in 2035.
HYDEF is supervised by the Spanish company, and HYDIS by MBDA. About the second, some details were announced. HYDIS features a four-stage Aquila anti-missile missile that can be launched from the Mk41. Akila is based on existing technologies of Aster rockets and the photo shows that it is about 30% longer than it and reaches 7 meters.
It was said that one launcher would be required to cover an area with a radius of 100 km from ballistic and hypersonic missiles. The cost of the new missile defense system is declared to be no more than a third of the American SM-3. However, in various modifications it costs between 10 and 30 million dollars.