Europe develops interceptor to counter Russian 'Invincible' hypersonic missiles.

European defense companies are working to develop an interceptor capable of neutralizing "invincible" Russian hypersonic missiles. This protection system could be deployed across Europe to shoot down these missiles, which travel at a speed of 11,100 km/h (6,900 miles per hour) and are believed to be impervious to existing defenses. The development of this technology is in the hands of the European company MBDA.
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Europe launched a new program to develop a new interceptor able to intercept Russian hypersonic missiles like the KH-47M2 Kinzhal. 

In collaboration with France, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands, MBDA has committed to preliminary agreements aimed at creating a prototype of this interceptor within the next three years, as efforts to defend against this threat intensify.

One immediately thinks of the AQUILA system, which was already mentioned on Army Recognition on June 21, 2023. On June 20, 2023, MBDA announced that it would lead a European consortium as part of the HYDIS² (Hypersonic Defense Interceptor Study) program, offering its interceptor.

Hypersonic missiles, unlike conventional rockets that fly at approximately Mach 3, reach a minimum speed of Mach 5, approximately 3,800 miles per hour, which is five times the speed of sound or even faster. Their unpredictable flight trajectory makes them extremely difficult to track.

Russia has developed weapons such as the 3M22 Zircon, an anti-ship missile referred to as "invincible" by President Putin in 2018. It was tested last year by a Russian warship. In 2021, China is also said to have conducted a test by launching a hypersonic projectile around the globe.

To address this challenge, British companies such as Qinetiq and Cohort are also working on solutions. For example, Qinetiq is exploring the use of a laser weapon called "Dragonfire" to shoot down these missiles. On the other hand, Israeli defense company Rafael is developing a system specifically designed to intercept hypersonic missiles, called "Sky Sonic."

Although hopes have been raised regarding the vulnerability of these missiles, especially when Ukraine claimed to have destroyed half a dozen Russian KH-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles in May last year using anti-missile systems presumed to be Patriot batteries lent by the United States, Russia denied this assertion. Future models of these missiles will be more difficult to neutralize.

Defense against these hypersonic missiles requires monitoring a much larger area to detect and intercept them. Options for destroying them include direct impact, radius-of-action explosion, or the use of energy weapons that disrupt the missile's electronics.

The race to counter Russian hypersonic missiles continues with MBDA's efforts to develop an interceptor capable of neutralizing this new technology. Hypersonic missiles, which travel at extreme speeds and have unpredictable trajectories, pose a major challenge for existing defenses. Other companies, such as Qinetiq and Rafael, are also working on alternative solutions, including laser weapons. While claims of destroying these missiles have been made, Russia has denied them, and it is expected that future models will be even more difficult to neutralize.