Europe to make key decisions on future HYDEF interceptor missile program to counter hypersonic threats.

As reported by the OCCAR on March 17, 2025, the Hypersonic Defence Interceptor (HYDEF) program will continue in 2025 to develop a European missile system intended to intercept threats, including hypersonic weapons, within the Earth’s atmosphere. Activities for the year, according to OCCAR, will include ongoing technical studies to refine the system’s design and test critical technologies under consideration for the future interceptor. Key milestones scheduled for 2025 include the Concept Selection Milestone, aimed at determining which system design should proceed, and a Mid-Term Review to evaluate progress in advancing the most essential components. These steps follow previous phases in which user needs were identified, threat scenarios studied, and technical alternatives evaluated.
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The Hypersonic Defence Interceptor (HYDEF) program was launched in response to the 2021 call from the European Defence Fund (EDF) and represents the first European defense program dedicated to hypersonic threats. (Picture source: Diehl Defence)

The HYDEF program is managed by the Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'Armement (OCCAR, or Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation), acting as Granting Authority for the European Commission and as Contracting Authority for the Participating States. Its objective is to initiate the development of both naval- and ground-based effectors capable of intercepting threats within the atmosphere.

The program is structured around two main phases: a Pre-feasibility Phase and a Feasibility Phase. In parallel with the Feasibility Phase, the consortium is pursuing early maturation of critical technologies and designs. The program aims to mitigate technological risks and demonstrate a cost-effective European endo-atmospheric interceptor with advanced maneuverability and the ability to neutralize maneuvering hypersonic threats. To support this goal, HYDEF integrates advanced propulsion systems, aerodynamic configurations, cutting-edge sensors, guidance technologies, and actuator systems to deliver high agility and effective interception capabilities.

On 24 April 2024, the Mission Concept Milestone was completed. At this stage, the consortium finalized requirements consolidation, proposed initial concept ideas and system options, and delivered preliminary performance assessments to end users. The first version of the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) was approved. Subsequently, the Pre-feasibility Phase concluded with the Mission Definition Review on 28 August 2024. This review involved analyzing user and mission needs, mapping out threat scenarios, and identifying relevant weapon and sensor systems. A high-level system model was produced, and the proposed architecture was evaluated against defined requirements and available resources.

Throughout the Pre-feasibility Phase, workshops were held during both key milestones to gather feedback from end users and incorporate operational insights into the system design. At the end of October 2024, the Early Maturation Kick-Off Meeting validated the planned activities for technology development. This included aligning them with the initial proposal, assessing the current Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) of key components, and determining what resources would be needed to advance those TRLs.

The HYDEF program is funded with a total of €110 million. Of this, €100 million is provided by the European Defence Fund, while €10 million comes from the participating states—Belgium, Germany, Norway, Poland, and Spain—including €2.7 million in self-funded industry contributions under the Low-Performing Countries (LPC) mechanism. The current phase of the program spans from 2023 to 2026. Participating states are actively involved in the program's execution, and the European Commission attends as an observer.

The HYDEF consortium is composed of 14 companies from seven European countries. The program is coordinated by the Spanish company Sistemas de Misiles de España (SMS), which signed the contract with OCCAR on 31 October 2023. The technical lead is assumed by the German company Diehl Defence, responsible for developing the complete system and the interceptor missile. Other key contributors include SONACA from Belgium, NAMMO from Norway, LKE from the Czech Republic, ILOT and ITWL from Poland, and companies such as EM&E, GMV, Instalaza, INTA, Navantia, Sener, and Beyond Gravity from Spain and Sweden.

The HYDEF interceptor is being designed to engage and neutralize both hypersonic cruise missiles (HCM) and maneuvering hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV), using a network of sensors—some potentially space-based—and integration with existing NATO guidance systems for ballistic missile defense (BMD). The concept includes building upon and evolving current systems, such as IRIS-T, to extend their engagement altitude up to 50 kilometers in the HYDEF variant—effectively doubling current capability.

HYDEF is also aligned with the PESCO initiative “Timely Warning and Interception with Space-based TheatER surveillance” (TWISTER). Despite its selection, the HYDEF program has encountered institutional competition. The European missile manufacturer MBDA filed a legal complaint against the award decision, prompting the European Commission to initiate a parallel project, AIRDEF-EATMI, led by MBDA France, with German partners including MBDA Deutschland GmbH, OHB System AG, and the German Aerospace Center.