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Industry · Missile defense

MBDA-led hypersonic interceptor targets 2029 demonstrator flight, Defense News reports

MBDA-led Hydis competes with Hydef for €100 million for its next development phase, Defense News reports. The European Defence Fund plans to support only one proposal.

The MBDA-led Hydis consortium plans to fly a full-systems demonstrator of its European hypersonic interceptor by the end of 2029, Defense News reported from the company's briefing at the Euronaval exhibition.1

Hydis competes with Hydef for €100 million in European funding

second development phase of the interceptor

European funding€100 million

Hydis competes with Hydef for €100 million in European funding for the second development phase

11 member states€133 millionplanned

with 11 member states contributing a combined €133 million of funding in addition to the European money, MBDA said.

The European Defence Fund plans to fund only one of the two proposals under its 2026 work program

Reported by Defense News

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

Hydis is competing with Hydef, coordinated by Spain's Sistemas de Misiles, for €100 million in European funding for its second development phase. The European Defence Fund plans to finance only one proposal. MBDA vice president for program incubators Lionel Mazenq said Nov. 4 that a decision was due at month's end.1

Mazenq said the next phase would run from mid-2027 to mid-2029 and include full-scale flight trials. Hydis aims to reach technology readiness levels between 3 and 6 for all functions by the end of that phase. Production is scheduled to begin in the first half of the 2030s, he said.1

MBDA said 11 member states would contribute a combined €133 million alongside the European funding. Mazenq put company contributions at more than €10 million. Germany is dropping out as a partner country for phase two, the briefing documents said. The consortium is developing fallback options if the European Commission chooses Hydef, Mazenq said.1

The hit-to-kill concept draws on MBDA's Aster missile technology for flight control, with Italy's Avio providing solid rocket motors. Mazenq said Hydis aims for a unit cost below a third of an SM-3's, without specifying which version.1

For suppliers, Hydis's next phase would widen participation: Mazenq said it would expand to 36 industrial and research partners plus 14 subcontractors, Defense News reports. The project currently involves 19 companies. Safran would provide terminal-guidance sensors.1

Sources (1)
  1. Defense News: MBDA plans to fly 'fat' hypersonic interceptor demonstrator before end-2029 www.defensenews.com
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Contracts · Air defense

Switzerland shortlists Barak MX, SAMP/T NG to supplement Patriot, Defense News reports

Defense News reports Switzerland wants a second system to expand air defense coverage and reduce dependence on a single supplier while retaining plans to buy Patriot.

Switzerland has narrowed its choice for a second long-range air defense system to Israel’s Barak MX or the French-Italian SAMP/T NG while retaining plans to buy Patriot, Defense News reported.1

Switzerland narrowed the choice for its second future long-range air defense system

while sticking to plans to buy Patriot

second future long-range air defense systemBarak MX or the French-Italian SAMP/T NGplanned

while sticking to plans to buy Patriot

government proposal6 billion francsrequested

to finance the second long-range air-defense system and a portion of the additional costs for Patriot

Reported by Defense News

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

Switzerland’s Federal Council, its government, wants the second system to expand the protected area and reduce dependence on a single supplier or supply chain. Switzerland announced the evaluation in May after Patriot deliveries slipped by several years, expressing a preference for a European-produced system. Delivery talks with the United States continue.1

The Federal Council said Wednesday it had asked Switzerland’s defense department to continue evaluating both candidates. Barak MX comes from Israel Aerospace Industries; SAMP/T NG comes from Eurosam, the MBDA and Thales joint venture. The council said it considered bids from four manufacturers in France, Israel and South Korea, weighing foreign-policy and economic-policy considerations alongside technical, military and weapon-related factors.1

Parliament is scheduled to review a government proposal for an additional 24 billion Swiss francs in defense and security spending during its winter session. That request includes 6 billion francs for the second long-range system and a portion of additional Patriot costs.1

Switzerland’s government says abandoning the Patriot purchase without a replacement system is not an option in the current situation, Defense News reported. The council will decide on the second system’s next steps and an additional Patriot appropriation after evaluations finish and parliament decides on armed forces funding. That funding decision is expected in early 2027.1

Sources (1)
  1. Defense News: Switzerland shortlists SAMP/T, Barak MX for long-range air defense www.defensenews.com
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Contracts · Europe

BAE Systems and PGZ to expand large-calibre ammunition production

The Warsaw Defence Plan also calls for air defence missile collaboration, drone and counter-drone development, and closer coordination of UK and Polish defence procurement.

BAE Systems and Poland’s PGZ are to expand large-calibre ammunition production capacity and capability under the Warsaw Defence Plan. The UK Ministry of Defence announced the plan on 27 October 2026.1

BAE Systems and PGZ will expand large-calibre ammunition production capacity

Warsaw Defence Plan

BAE Systems and PGZlarge-calibre ammunitionplanned

will expand large-calibre ammunition production capacity and capability

The UK and Polandcloser defence procurement coordinationplanned

will also work together to further strengthen cooperation between their defence industries through closer defence procurement coordination

UK Ministry of Defence, GOV.UK

Sources
TGOs tgos.io

The ammunition commitment gives BAE Systems and PGZ a named role in the plan’s industrial work. The UK announcement gives no funding amount, production quantity, site or timetable for the ammunition expansion.1

The agreement sets out the first phase of defence cooperation under the new UK-Poland Security and Defence Partnership Treaty.1

Also announced

  • The countries plan to collaborate on manufacturing and developing the next generation of air defence missiles.1
  • The agreement calls for co-development of drone and counter-drone technologies.1
  • The countries will share lessons from developing the British Type 31 and Polish Miecznik frigates, which are built from a common design.1

The UK and Poland also intend to coordinate defence procurement more closely. That coordination will build on deals such as Poland’s procurement of its Narew air defence system from MBDA UK.1

Sources (1)
  1. UK and Poland strengthen defences on Europe's Eastern flank, GOV.UK, 27 October 2026 www.gov.uk
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