Dutch defense technology startup Destinus has been appointed consortium lead and prime contractor for Bliksem EXO, a multinational initiative aimed at developing Europe’s first sovereign exo-atmospheric upper-layer missile defense system.
The Katwijk-based company will lead a consortium comprising Airbus Defence and Space, MBDA Deutschland, Safran Electronics & Defense and Thales. The partners have signed a Letter of Intent to jointly develop an interceptor capable of countering medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles outside Earth’s atmosphere.
Consortium to Develop Hit-to-Kill Interceptor
Under the proposed structure, Destinus will oversee overall system integration and lead development of the Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV).
MBDA Deutschland will be responsible for the interceptor booster, launcher and canister, while Safran Electronics & Defense will supply seeker and guidance, navigation and control technologies. Airbus Defence and Space will develop the command-and-control and battle management system, and Thales will provide radar and sensor capabilities.
The interceptor is designed to destroy ballistic missile threats through direct kinetic impact during the midcourse phase of flight rather than using an explosive warhead.
Program Targets European Missile Defense Capability
The consortium said Bliksem EXO is intended to complement existing lower-layer missile defense systems by providing an additional defensive layer against medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. The system is expected to be interoperable with NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence and support the European Sky Shield Initiative.
Joint engineering work is scheduled to begin in August 2026, with a space test of the Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle planned for 2027. The consortium plans to negotiate a binding agreement within three months following the signing of the Letter of Intent.
Destinus, founded in 2021 by Chief Executive Officer Mikhail Kokorich, develops autonomous aerospace and defense systems and operates across several European countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Ukraine.