Mbda is back on track for the future European hypersonic interceptor
As Rid reveals, "the European Commission has decided to launch a second program within the framework of the European Defense Fund for the study of a future endo-atmospheric interceptor" which will be led by Mbda. HYDEF is among the most strategic and relevant programs of the first EDF round
Mbda is back on track for the future European hypersonic interceptor.
“The European Commission has decided to launch a second program within the European Defense Fund for the study of a future endo-atmospheric interceptor to counter modern missile threats, starting with hypersonic ones, to be included in the wider TWISTER system (which also includes the entire satellite and early warning part). This second program will obviously be led by MBDA, in particular MBDA France, which was initially rejected, and will be based on the interceptor currently known as AQUILA”.
This is what Rid – Italian Defense Review, directed by Pietro Batacchi, revealed .
At the end of July, the European Commission announced the results of the tenders of the European Defense Fund (EDF). And surprisingly, Brussels had selected the consortium led by the Spanish group Sener (German Diehl was present) for the HYDEF (Hypersonic Defense Interceptor) programme, worth 100 million euros. This project is to develop a European interceptor (greater than Mach 5) with the capability to respond to hypersonic threats.
According to La Tribune , in late September the group led by Eric Beranger brought an action for annulment to the European Commission after considering for several weeks whether to initiate this action.
All the details.
THE EU HYDEF PROJECT
The EU HYDEF program (European Hypersonic Defense Interceptor), linked to the PESCO Twister project concerns the development of a European interceptor capable of countering the threats of 2035 and beyond, weapon systems and sensors.
“The project should result in the development of a concept, risk mitigation activities and demonstration of a cost-effective endo-atmospheric interceptor capable of operating at different altitudes, including aerodynamic characteristics and flight control surface for high maneuverability , highly agile driving concepts and advanced driving sensors” explained Profit Analysis .
The program will last 36 months and will therefore cost around 110 million euros. The EU will contribute up to almost 100 million euros to the effort.
BRUSSELS PREFERRED THE CONSORTIUM LED BY SENER
So in July the Directorate General for Industry and Space in Brussels assigned the Hydef program to the consortium led by the Spanish Sener Aerospacial, in partnership with the German Diehl Defence.
Eleven other partners are part of the consortium: Navantia; Escribano Mechanical and Engineering; GMV Aerospace and Defence; Instalaza SA and Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial Esteban Terradas of the Ministry of Defense in Spain; Instytut Techniczny Wojsk Lotniczych and Warsaw Institute of Aviation in Poland; LK Engineering Sro of the Czech Republic; the Norwegian Nammo; Ruag Space in Sweden and the Belgian group Sonaca.
TRY AGAIN FOR MBDA
Therefore defeated Mbda, a European missile group made up of Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%) and Leonardo (25%).
The consortium led by MBDA brought together 51 companies from 14 different countries. Above all, it brings together the most important expertise in Europe in the field of hypersonics, especially in France and Italy through the SAMP/T programme. And in the autumn, the group filed an annulment action with the European Commission against the award of the Hydef project.
In the meantime, already on the occasion of the presentation of the group's 2022 results on March 15, Beranger had declared: "We intend to continue working on this project [Aquila]", as reported by Aviation Week.
So now – reports Rid – "the 2 consortia will continue their developments and will be put into competition. We will then see if the 2 projects will converge or if only one will be chosen in the end".
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/innovazione/mbda-torna-in-pista-per-il-futuro-intercettore-ipersonico-europeo/ on Thu, 30 Mar 2023 05:03:37 +0000.