The “European Hypersonic Defence Interceptor” (EU HYDEF) is a project co-funded by the European Union, under the European Defence Fund, and Belgium, Germany, Norway, Poland, and Spain. OCCAR has been entrusted the management of the EU HYDEF project by the European Commission (EC) and the Participating States.
Between June 12 and 13, 2024, the Third HYDEF (HYpersonic DEFence) Stakeholder Workshop took place at Diehl Defence facilities in Überlingen, Germany. Participants from HYDEF Consortium companies and HYDEF Participating States, along with OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation), met to exchange more detailed information in order to refine the ConOps (Concept of Operation). The event was organised by Diehl Defence and Sistemas de Misiles de España (SMS), chaired by OCCAR HYDEF PD.
The contribution of technical experts from the participating nations to the ConOps is critical to set a solid base for further development of the Hypersonic Defence Interceptor and the System-of-Systems behind it. In the meeting, the consortium used innovative methodologies and tools to present the technical information, raising awareness on the expected performance of the system and maximizing feedback from the nations. OCCAR HYDEF PD remarked the high quality and quantity of information provided by the stakeholders. In view of the success and fruitfulness of these gatherings, it was agreed to organize additional workshops to address specific topics.
This Third HYDEF Core Stakeholder Workshop marks a further step in European cooperation in the development of an interceptor as part of an integrated air and missile defence system architecture. This complex System-of-System will be capable of neutralising emerging and highly sophisticated hypersonic threats in the coming decades. The next major HYDEF event is the Mission Definition Review technical milestone, to be held next August, which will mark the end of the pre-feasibility phase. Afterwards, an extended stakeholder event with representatives from the ministries of defence of several EU member states will present the common European Hypersonic Defence concept to other interested nations. Defending Hypersonic threats is not only a challenge for a few nations, it is a challenge for whole united Europe.
HYDEF is financed by the European Defence Fund (EDF), and five Participating States (BE, DE, ES, NO, PL), and managed by OCCAR in Madrid. The HYDEF consortium is led by SMS, which is responsible for project management, and Diehl Defence, which is responsible for the technical part. The entire HYDEF consortium consists of 13 companies from 6 European countries. HYDEF started with the signing of the contract between OCCAR and SMS for the HYDEF interceptor concept study programme in October 2023. The HYDEF programme is a unique opportunity for Europe to develop a state-of-the-art hypersonic defence capability to secure European airspace and neutralize hypersonic threats.
“Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.”
HYDEF – Together for a safer tomorrow
