Five European companies have agreed to develop an anti-missile system similar to “Oreshnik” within the Bliksem EXO consortium.
Europe aims to possess its own exoatmospheric interceptor for medium and intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBMs). During the inaugural meeting of the newly formed anti-ballistic coalition, which includes Ukraine and nine other nations, five companies – Thales, Airbus Defence and Space, Destinus, MBDA Deutschland, and Safran Electronics & Defense – have committed to creating an anti-ballistic interceptor. This system is intended to be fully compatible with the missile defense systems currently in service with NATO member states, as well as the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI).
The parties have signed a letter of intent to establish the Bliksem EXO consortium. This consortium will focus on the development, production, and support of a sovereign European ballistic missile interception system bearing the same name. Thales emphasized in its press release that this system will not compete with but rather complement the existing lower-tier missile defense capabilities of European nations, thereby contributing to a multi-layered missile defense system.
The signed letter of intent outlines an agreement for the consortium to be finalized within the next three months. The parties have ambitious plans to commence engineering work in August 2026 and conduct tests of the Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) in 2027.
Notably, the Dutch company Destinus is slated to lead the consortium and serve as the main contractor for the project. Despite being founded in 2021 and having the least experience among the participating companies, Destinus is known for its Ruta cruise missiles, which are supplied to Ukraine’s defense forces. Within the Bliksem EXO project, Destinus will act as the systems integrator and will also be responsible for the interceptor itself.
MBDA Deutschland will handle the booster, launch system, and container for the interceptor. Safran will develop the seeker head and the guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) system. Airbus Defence and Space will be responsible for the BMC4I (Battle Management, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence) system. Thales will provide the radar and sensor network, covering early warning to detection.
Regarding the latter, Thales showcased its new DeepFinder family of ultra-high-frequency early warning radar stations at the Eurosatory exhibition. These radars are designed to detect “Oreshnik” from 5,000 km away, reducing reliance on the United States.
Thales states that Bliksem EX will be “not only a next-generation system but also a system built for the realities of modern warfare.” It is noted that Ukraine’s operational experience in countering massive air missile attacks will be considered during the system’s development. However, it can be argued that this experience in countering missiles like “Oreshnik” is quite specific.
From Defense Express’s perspective, developing such a missile defense system is a highly challenging task, as explicitly stated by Alexandre Ziegler, Head of Safran’s Global Defense Sector. He emphasized that “intercepting targets above the atmosphere is the most complex challenge in missile defense, requiring extreme precision.”
On the positive side, each company will have a clearly defined scope of work from the outset. This could significantly reduce the likelihood of future disputes over work distribution, as seen in projects like the FCAS aviation program.
Previously, Defense Express reported that given the Russian leader’s acknowledgment of “Oreshnik” being non-functional, expectations for future launches of this IRBM should be managed.