In Europe, a prototype of a system of protection against hypersonic missiles may appear

British-French missile manufacturer MBDA has reached a preliminary agreement with several EU countries to build a prototype anti-hypersonic defense system. The first results are expected in three years, writes The Telegraph.

The system, which could intercept hypersonic missiles that are invulnerable to current missile defense systems, could potentially be deployed throughout Europe, The Telegraph points out. MBDA now has early-stage prototype development agreements with France, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. According to the British publication, such a system could be an effective tool against Russian missiles.

According to MBDA Executive Director Eric Beranger, the project “will contribute to the strengthening of the sovereign missile systems industry in Europe” and will also increase the competitiveness of the European industry. British Qinetiq and Cohort and Israeli Rafael are also developing means to counter hypersonic missiles, the newspaper notes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke about the presence of hypersonic missiles in Russia in March 2018 during a message to the Federal Assembly. In July 2022, Putin announced that the Zircon hypersonic missile would enter service with the Russian Navy in the near future. Zircon is a hypersonic anti-ship cruise missile. It is capable of speeds up to Mach nine (nine times the speed of sound, over 10,000 km/h), with a claimed range of over 1,000 km. Putin noted that the Zircon missile systems have no analogues in the world, “there are no barriers” for them.

On May 17, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the destruction of five American-made Patriot air defense missile launchers, as well as a multifunctional radar station, as a result of a strike on Kiev using Dagger hypersonic missiles. On the night of May 17, Russian troops also attacked a large Ukrainian Armed Forces ammunition depot in Nikolaev. As a result, all goals were achieved.

The Russian complex with hypersonic aeroballistic missiles “Kinzhal” has been on combat duty since 2017. Earlier it was reported that it was first used during a special operation in Ukraine in March 2022. The mass of the missile warhead is 500 kg, and the flight range is 2000 km.