Le Bourget – 17 June, 2025 - The 55th International
Paris Air Show (PAS25) offered a valuable opportunity for representatives from
government, industry, and European procurement Organisations to meet and engage
in discussions regarding the ongoing and future European defence capability
development initiatives, including those aimed at countering the threats posed by
the emerging hypersonic missiles.
Mr. François Arbault, Director from
EU DGDEFIS *, the Director of OCCAR-EA Mr. Joachim Sucker, the MBDA Director
Eric Beranger and the OCCAR HYDIS Programme Manager Mrs. Stéphanie Zirnhelt,
met to discuss the latest advancements of the EDF 2023 Hypersonic Defence Interceptor
System (HYDIS) Programme. After one year of initial concept development and the
successful completion of the first contractual gate (i.e., the Solution Space
Review), the project is now actively engaged on reaching its second contractual
milestone, the Initial Concept Review (ICR), when the two most promising
missile concepts will be down-selected and further assessed in the next programme
phases.
HYDIS clearly represents an example
of a successful collaboration between EU and Participating States to support defence
projects and promote cooperation among European defence firms, with the common goal
of delivering effective, innovative and interoperable technologies and
equipment for the Armed Forces across Europe.
The International Paris Air Show saw a strong representation
from the HYDIS consortium, which included major players like MBDA Group, Avio
Aero, CIRA (Centro Italiano Ricerche Aerospaziali), DLR, Fokker, ONERA, Roxel,
Ariane Group, and THALES.
In this context, OCCAR confirms its prominent
position in Europe to meet EU Institutions and Member States’ needs and
expectations, by delivering effective, tailored and certified management
services for armament programmes, throughout all phases of their life cycle.
* DGDEFIS: Directorate-General for
Defence Industry and Space
“The European Hypersonic Defence Interceptor
System” (HYDIS) is a project co-funded by the European Union, under the
European Defence Fund, and by four Participating States (PSs) which are France,
Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. OCCAR has been entrusted by the European
Commission (EC) for the indirect management of the action by the signature of a
Contribution Agreement. OCCAR, as Contracting Authority, has concluded a
contract with the HYDIS consortium to implement the programme, on behalf of EU
and the Member States.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are
however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the
European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the
European Commission can be held responsible for them.