Britain’s next steps towards a counter-hypersonic capability will be informed by a European Defence Fund decision from May 2027 on whether to progress HYDIS or HYDEF, and the UK already observes HYDIS, according to a written answer from the Ministry of Defence.
Ben Obese-Jecty, the Conservative MP for Huntingdon, asked what discussions had taken place with European counterparts on UK inclusion in the Hypersonic Defence Interceptor System consortium, and separately what effect non-active involvement would have on the UK’s ability to obtain a counter-hypersonic capability.
Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, gave the same reply to both questions:
“The UK is an official Observer Nation to the Hypersonic Defence Interceptor System (HYDIS) concept programme which provides insight and progressive evaluation of the requirements and technology choices. Alternative routes to the UK achieving a counter-hypersonic capability remain under assessment and our next steps will be informed by the European Defence Fund decision whether to progress HYDIS or the competing HYDEF programme from May 2027.”
Maria Eagle, then a defence minister, told Parliament in April 2025 that the UK was working with the United States and Australia on hypersonic threats through AUKUS.
HYDIS is the effort lead by MBDA and it includes the AQUILA missile, I was unaware the UK was an observers on this program, it’s good news if it’s selected as it will give the UK an equivalent to THAAD. If combined with a cheaper offering from FREYA for low end ballistic missile intercept it would give a filly decent overall capability.
The Australian and US projects that Eagle mentions would be based on Standard missile technology? Australia fired SM-2 from a trailer based system in exercises, and with the RAN using US interceptors Aegis, their own variation would be CEAFAR derived radar possibly.
Wonder how much UK content that would provide and associated job benefit, which seems to be the priority of this Govt? But would ensure constant development cash and no dramas on funding.
Observing the EU is also going to tie us in as a buyer rather than contributor? Pace of delivery of Aster has been slow , and the new found determination to deliver might vanish once Europe starts buying Ru gas again and EU politics changes
Choices choices, sovereign would be better albeit more costly.
Much more Soverign risk being tied with the USA and there would be zero uk content in an SM2 based system.
I don’t agree that Aster development has been slow, slow compared to what. Aster 30 is currently going through its third reiteration in 20 years with its second radar generation on SAMP/T. Patriot is only now getting a 360 degree radar.
This program is about building a sovereign European capability to defend our continent against ballistic missile. I can’t see any reason we would want the US involved in such a program.