AQUILA: MBDA's new Hypersonic Threats Interceptor

At the Paris Air Show 2023, MBDA unveiled AQUILA: A new land and ship-based interceptor designed to counter maneuvering ballistic missiles, hypersonic cruise missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles (HGV).
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MBDA has worked for more than five years on innovative options for counter-hypersonic air-defence building on our expertise from the ASTER anti-missile interceptor and our deep knowledge of threats. This is the AQUILA project, proposing the most valuable counter-hypersonic interceptor concepts for European nations, alongside a global area defence portfolio with other MBDA air defence products.
In March 2023, MBDA was invited with its partners to tender for a concept architecture and technology maturation study of an endo-atmospheric interceptor against the new high end emerging threats.
HYDIS² is the HYpersonic Defence Interceptor Study proposed by MBDA with a consortium bringing together 19 partners and more than 30 subcontractors across 14 European countries
The objective of HYDIS² is to design various interceptor concepts and mature the associated critical technologies to deliver the best interception solution that fulfils the four member states needs - France, Italy, Germany and The Netherlands - and copes with the European TWISTER capability programme. This is a central element of the contribution of European states to the mission of defence of populations and armed forces, in particular against the emerging hypersonic threats that constitute a radical change from ballistic ones.
France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands have already confirmed their support and commitment by signing a Letter of Intent and agreeing on Initial Common Requirements.
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[@bernardrocque6025]

Ce qui me rassure maintenant c'est de constater qu'enfin les pays européens semblent vouloir travailler ensemble pour concevoir et construire des armes défensives/offensives . J'ai pris énormément de précaution pour écrire cela parce que cette démarche n'était pas évidente pour beaucoup de pays qui ne comptent que sur les USA .

[@ricodelpiero]

So for anti-hypersonic missile/ anti-HGV, there are Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) from USA, then Skysonic from Israel, and the last there are Aquila from Europe. All of those systems are still in development. I can't wait for all of them to put in test for intercepting some HGV targets.

[@thespiritphoenix3798]

Don't forget the Upgrade to Sea Viper by the UK. First European Navy to have anti-HGV/hypersonic missile capability

[@Itachi951000]

@@thespiritphoenix3798 Which upgrade to Sea Viper by the UK? The Aster B1 NT that you're referencing is a Franco-Italian missile. The UK is an export customer.

[@mac2626]

@@Itachi951000 Don’t the Brits own 33% of MBDA.

[@Itachi951000]

@@mac2626Yes. Not sure how that changes anything to my point though. Do you consider Brimstone or CAMM to be French missiles because they're manufactured by MBDA? They are British programs. The company maintained national divisions after the merger (MBDA France, MBDA UK, MBDA Italy, etc), which still independently pursue their own projects and sometimes cooperate (Meteor, FC/ASW, etc). The Aster family was developed by Eurosam, which is 66% French (MBDA France and Thales) and 33% Italian (MBDA Italy). The UK is just an export customer. It is a Franco-Italian program.

[@watermirror]

Been waiting long when will Aster's cool pifpaf terminal dart will get a bigtime upgrade like that. Finally concept stage revealed But speaking of concepts, time to fiddle Been always thinking the full cell diameter of Sylver or Mk41 isn't optimized by a mere 180mm terminal dart despite the initial booster's wide dia. Say, like SM3-1B terminal dart, a 533mm diameter version for Aster terminal dart but maintaining length-width ratio of the original (or maybe not, assuming that's better); then doesn't matter if 2 or more initial boosters, the overall length will be 7m (Sylver A70) or 7.6m (Mk.41 Strike) to fit existing launchers. That approach might become an exo interceptor; even if still endo, at least ceiling is way higher than before, still killing other higher altitude hypersonic threats But what's more interesting is quadpacked Aster: retaining the terminal dart's original 180mm (or widened to 254mm or so) but the initial booster/s' diameter will be 254mm (or so) to attain quadpack in Sylver or Mk41; the overall missile length will fit existing A70 or Mk41S or any similar tall launchers. Relatively small ships can then counterpunch higher threats on a budget. Not only that, this quadpack config is more useful if multi-warheads are released before intercept or intercept fails, that's when quadpack becomes better, thus wider diameter isn't always better. Wondering what altitude & range Aster can achieve in that config

[@danielc2701]

Don't forget though that the increase in diameter of the dart is an exponential increase in the weight and size of the "payload" and that can affect the performance badly. If this is a kinetic kill weapon, then there really isn't a need to have a bigger dart if there is no explosives to carry. So it all depends, bigger is not necessarily better, what they want the payload to do and how they want it to behave are much more serious considerations rather than "make it bigger for the fun of it".

[@watermirror]

@@danielc2701 I know. My original concept specs are just, among others, SM6-1A lengthened to 7.6m (either composed of 1 lengthened booster or 2 shorter boosters). As for Aster dart, widened to 343mm like SM2 or SM6-1A or down to 254mm or ±254 (maintaining length-width ratio, unless there's better option) then 1 or 2 boosters reaching 7.6m. But then, there come reports of planned features for SM6-1B: is 533mm, is hypersonic, & intended to counter hypersonic cruise missiles & HGVs. Thus I said 533mm But then, even some details of SM6-1B is still not out. So the dart might just be the cone like SM3's, or the cone + upper part of the missile body providing thrust. Or some other way like the dart encapsulating the real dart (like the existing SM6-1A dart), so the outer part provides extra fuel & enhanced protection from friction (since it's planned to be hypersonic; by the time the dart is released, there's much less air for friction, or none if that end up including exo interception). Or say, 2 or 3 ESSMs inside that 533mm dart; 2 or more Aster darts in Aquila. Whatever that is, it depends how 533mm dart is used. Afterall, Aquila is still in concept stage, still limited details on sm6-1b. So it isn't about fun but making do with whatever is available

[@Michaellxq]

Unfortunately DCNS have absolutely no interest in developing quadpack ability for Sylver VLS probably due its main customer the french navy have not had a need

[@CardSharkOfficial]

That will require a new VLS? It probably won't fit in a SylverA50, from the look of it, and the A70 is not universal and can only carry the MdCN. By the way what is the expected size of the next generation antiship missile? The mock up looked gigantic as well.

[@NavalNews]

Yes, a new VLS will be needed for both AQUILA (or the future anti atmospheric missile selected by the EU) and the FC/ASW. It is a project (with naval group as prime) but should become a program of record hopefully soon.

[@lukeallison3713]

@@NavalNews The Fc/ASW was intended to go in the mk 41 vls for the type 26 frigate and the a70 for french frigates at design launch wasn't it. Has the expected size of the missile increased and will that probably mean it will only be cannister launch only?

[@IsraelMilitaryChannel]

This crushes the dreams of hypersonic missile fanboys. They are in utter awe in disbelief, they thought hypersonic missile is the Holy Grail and it's unstoppable. Sorry to burst your bubbles but for every weapon there will always come a counter and vice versa. Just like aircrafts and ballistic missiles were ones thought unstoppable, and then they got countered by air defense systems. Main battle tanks as well. The tanks countered infantry units, but anti tank missiles were developed, and then active protection systems were developed to counter that counter.

[@Americaisgreat12]

I mean the missile is unproven and hypersonic missiles still reigns supreme but the hypersonic interceptors are becoming more common I don't know how they're going to stop glide vehicles which is harder than the cruise missile version of hypersonic missiles

[@IsraelMilitaryChannel]

@@Americaisgreat12 Neither are hypersonic missiles proven. They aren't even battle tested. Russia's Kinzhal missile is not "modern hypersonic missile". The Russian Kinzhal is just an air launched ballistic missile equivalent to that of the US GAM-87 Skybolt which was developed in the 1950s. What do you mean by "hypersonic missiles reign supreme"? This doesn't even make any sense. There are 2 routes to go when developing offensive missiles. The stealth route or the speed route. Russia and China seems to prefer the speed route, the US, the stealth route. There is no such thing as supreme missile. Both missiles has the same objective, which is to penetrate the enemy's air defense but by different means. Now back to the hypersonic missiles which are not even battled proven. There is no instance where hypersonic glide vehicle was battle tested nor hypersonic cruise missile was. All we get is either Russia boasting about it's alleged capabilities or China claiming what it does.

[@fqeagles21]

​@@Americaisgreat12not battle Proven

[@timmurphy5541]

it's not about being unstoppable. The issue is how big an area can an interceptor protect. Existing air defense can protect a wide area but hypersonic missiles reduce time available to respond which makes the protection zone smaller (and more of an ellipse). This forces the defenders to have lots more air defence points which is obviously difficult. I'm not the expert but there are channels that explain it.

[@johnsilver9338]

@@Americaisgreat12 Compared to sea-skimming and stealthy cruise missiles, hypersonic glide vehicles HGVs like ballistic missiles are very detectable/trackable by long range infrared IIR sensors due to its plasma sheath. And since hypersonic interceptors already existed before even hypersonic missiles were developed and came into existence, its just a matter of interfacing hypersonic SAMs with long range IIR sensors. Not saying it can be easily done, but that is the counter countries are going with at least for the US. It's also why US didn't proceed with HGVs back in 2010.

[@watcherzero5256]

"We have been working on this for 10 years".... "We have no idea yet whether it will be a two stage or three stage missile or whether it will be powered by a ramjet or solid stage missile".

[@KadaverKomplex]

Scalability! Room for growth! Modular! System of systems!

[@joerivanlier1180]

Its about the kill vehicle here, datalink and target tracking. Things like staging and engines is as the man said something for the concept phase where they get more money to develop the theory they got in to something that can be either allowed or rejected for a test phase.. This is less a actual weapon as it is a collection of concepts and technologies they got and put together for a theoretical solution. But as people like to see something that looks like a rocket, you need the animations and mock up..

[@heimdalshorn]

...exactely what I am thinking, LOL

[@fabr5747]

It depends a lot on what the clients want ! In the mean time, R&D is testing all the possible solutions to bring to the market all the conditions for the client to make decisions. MBDA for example doesn't have access to the intelligence of some governments that are more aware of the present and future potential threats ! Therefore, in an initial phase, they have to look for solutions for every potential scenarios. And in the missile world, those scenarios are very diverse: - is it a missile at low altitude? - a manœuvrable ballistic missile - a highly manoeuvrable cruise missile And depending on what the client wants to protect (ship, infrastructure, mobile land forces, etc) the possible missiles vary a lot. The dimensions are not the same, there are some limitations. So this comment is a bit condescending, but don't think that there is no reasonable explanation for it !

[@massimobernardo-]

Aquila Is Eagle in Italian

[@n1k2-ja46]

Is it a missile like the "European version" of the SM-3? SM-3の”ヨーロッパ版”みたいなミサイルなのかな？

[@NavalNews]

Not really because as the Naval News Chief Editor asked "is it an exo-atmospheric missiles ?" the MBDA representative said definitely not. SM-3 is an exo-atmospheric missile... And probably the future GPI (glide phase interceptor) will be too.

[@n1k2-ja46]

@@NavalNews Thank you for your kind reply. I understand that. ご丁寧な返信ありがとうございます。よくわかりました。

[@wouteraquacalorconstruct2752]

Yes indeed, europeans have the technological capabilities and they do not run of to the US solutions for hypersonic weapons interception

[@timjenkinson26]

Can't they just fit the same countermeasures to missiles that they have on fighter jets though?

[@danielc2701]

They function very differently. Jets go a lot slower and having a human brain on board makes the jet's defence a lot more adaptive and intelligent and frankly no one cares much if a missile gets shot down as opposed to a plane. One of the differences is that airplanes can carry a 2nd radar emitter to "beam" at chaff so that they can give a false doppler reading that makes it look like the chaff is still moving at high speeds. It's going to be a bit problematic to find some place to put that on a missile, especially since the entire rear is usually a nozzle. Then there is the need for "brains" in the missile to detect and decide when to deploy the chaff, so your missile starts to become bigger, smarter and much, much more expensive and hard to waste.

[@AugmentedGravity]

I've said it before and i'll say it again. Hypersonics are vastly overrated and overHYPEd.

[@didierlemoine6771]

yes like nuclear weapons :)

[@PW060284]

No way those countries would get into a peer conflict. What is the point of this?

[@fabr5747]

You know how countries don't get into peer conflicts? deterrence ! If a potential ennemi sees weakness, it might use the opportunity. That's why Germany attacked France in 1940, that's why Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union, or Russia attacked Ukraine. And today, technologies developed by countries who wouldn't end up in a conflict with a major country are selling weapons to smaller countries that are threatened by those major countries. The IRIS-T, Patriot missiles in Ukraine are a good example. Taiwan also will be at risk from China at some point, China needs to protect itself as well, etc...

[@didierlemoine6771]

just for the balance of power, when 1 make it, others do it too :)

[@augustiner3821]

​@@fabr5747... after France declared war to Germany.

[@JosephAntoniusMarioWijaya]

must importantly the Rus + Ch hypermissile now becoming absolute. No longer a threat at all 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@alpha5449]

We don't know yet. Long development. Hypersonics still not interceptable. I like the name Aquila that means Eagle. Maybe one day we will say what is capable of.

[@szwrph]

What a pity! Parlez français, ça sera moins douloureux...

[@mac2626]

But if he prefers to speak Shakespeare’s language.

[@Maxim_aka_Doka]

NATO discovered that the Patriot air defense system was unable to shoot down hypersonic missiles, and manufacturers began to offer their solutions. There is only a small problem for them to teach air defense to shoot down such missiles, you need to have hypersonic missiles. The Russian S-400 learned to shoot down hypersonic missiles precisely on the Dagger missiles (SA-N-9 Gauntlet).

[@NavalNews]

The Ukrainians actually managed to intercept Russian Kinzhal hypersonic missiles with Patriot. This has been reported by several outlets and confirmed by the US DoD.

[@massimobernardo-]

@@NavalNews Is SAMP/T capable ?

[@Maxim_aka_Doka]

@@NavalNews This information raises extreme doubts precisely there, that the Patriot had nothing to train on to shoot down hypersonic missiles. In the photos, which were passed off as downed Daggers, there were completely different, ordinary missiles. Most likely, such stuffing is done in order to save the reputation of Raytheon.

[@jorehir]

​@@massimobernardo- Yes, it's officially stated that the Aster missiles can intercept hypersonic threats, especially in its latest variants. However, the Aster wasn't born to intercept hypersonic threats, so it's not very good at it (short intercept range).

[@jorehir]

@@Maxim_aka_Doka We're not in the 70s anymore. Hypersonic threats can be digitally simulated, and interceptors are designed accordingly.

[@HayMaker-tv2dm]

Finnaly Europe and MBDA is doing something in the high velocity and altitude air defence systems, but the period of development are just ridicolous, why MBDA cancel the Fire -Shadow loitering heavy munition tested and ready for prodution its just ridicolous and absurd that MBDA with a joint program for a development of long range rocket artillery and the development of a supersonic TBM tactical ballistic missile with 500 to 800 km range for complement Europe strike capability, even Iran are light years ahead of Europe in that field, and since WW 2 that Europe dont have a TBM, only the French Pluton and Hades program that was almost cancelled and never saw major production, i dont now what is the problem in Europe its just a criminal behavior and all those small fake countries that want things their way and take advantage of bigger countries for defence we are talking in criminal behavior and total desregard for the security of their people the nationalists love to say they are Patriotic but they are the worst scumbags around i dont see nothing in the imediatly pipeline i see Israel, America, Turkey, Iran, China, Rússia and South Korea and a number of countries that are really smart strong willing developing a strong independent military industrial complex capacity and increase jobs and exports, but Europe is just a total disgrace nobody seems to understand those politicians and blaming the EU is the normal now but this is about individual countries like Germany, Italy, Spain, France, England, Portugal, Belgium and a huge number of other countries that is a joke like Ireland they just buy American debt with huge interests but not a penny for democracy protection the country that became a great money pot because of Europe the swiss of the North, only some countries in Europe spend 2% of GDP and to be honest Europe should spend 5% for at least 20 years to increase the military industrial complex capacity and stockpiles. Its just ridicolous, criminal behavior, Ukraine is just a pain in my heart every day poor people Europe dont have the will or the type of weapons that could give a fast win to Ukraine they have but no political will always trying to push to somebody else what a great allies Rússia had double, now triple their spending and increase prodution in 2 years 5 million shells a year, Europe cannot deliver 1 million something is completly wrong 1 billion for one million shells what a robbery for that Germans are getting ready to sell, a small country like the Czech republic with less than half that money was able to buy almost 1 million shells fast and if they stay quiet oh God they will be able to buy three times cheaper and 5 times faster, its just ridicolous, heartful going out of Europe from frustrating lack of will and capacity, the good example Portugal that use to manufecter 105mm shells even to sell to America and mortar shells amunnition and now not even their bullets they can built because the industry since the 80 was destroyed and sold for pennies just criminal even countries with 10 million people can be strong in industrial military complex like Serbia or Israel, but in Europe doesnt worth, MBDA is the last standing the rest of a total destroyed industrial complex for good