A consortium of European defense groups, led by Dutch start-up Destinus, is developing the continent's first interceptor system designed to destroy medium-range ballistic missiles in space. The alliance, named Bliksem EXO, includes Airbus, MBDA Deutschland, Safran, and Thales. The system aims to detect, track, and defeat missiles above the atmosphere, drawing lessons from Ukraine's experience countering Russian attacks, particularly the challenging Oreshnik missile.

The Bliksem EXO system will target missiles during their midcourse flight outside the atmosphere, utilizing a direct kinetic "hit-to-kill" impact. Companies plan to finalize a binding agreement within three months and conduct a space test in 2027. "Europe has strong lower-layer missile defences but it still lacks a sovereign European upper layer against medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles," stated Mikhail Kokorich, Destinus chief executive.

This initiative follows the launch of the Integrated Anti-Ballistic Missile Coalition, a wider group of nations including France, Germany, Sweden, the UK, and Ukraine, pledging joint missile defense systems. Concurrently, France agreed to allow Ukraine to produce certain missiles under license, bolstering Kyiv's arsenal and its ability to defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks. Ukraine will also acquire SAMPT-NG air defense systems and produce Aster 30 interceptor missiles.