MBDA has signed a contract with the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) to progress the HYpersonic Defence Interceptor Study (HYDIS2) into the concept development stage.
The three yearlong concept development stage will see MBDA lead a team of more than 19 partner companies and over 20 subcontractors to examine a variety of possible anti-ballistic missile and counter-hypersonic weapon architectures.
MBDA will also work with the four funding nations – France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands – to consolidate requirements for the weapons system, which OCCAR intends to be fielded from 2035.
The development stage of the program will also mature the industrial networks that will be needed to support the eventual fielding of the capability HYDIS2 matures into.
Progress on HYDIS2 comes as Japan and the US agree to cooperate in the development of the US Missile Defense Agencies (MDA) Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI).
The two governments finalised a Cooperative Development Project Arrangement that brings Japan into the program, which aims to field an AEGIS combat system compatible counter-hypersonic glide vehicle capability, on 15 May 2024.
Under the agreement, which was signed under the auspices of the US-Japan bilateral Research, Development, Test and Evolution Projects Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Japan will lead development of the rocket motor and propulsions elements of GPI.
Japan and the US have previously collaborated on the development of the Raytheon/Mitsubishi Heavy Industries SM-3 Block IIA Ballistic Missile Defence missile.