MBDA Plans Interceptor Missile to rival US's Patriot, Russian S-400

European missile consortium MBDA has indicated plans to build an interceptor missile system that will counter ballistic, cruise missile as well as latest generation fighter jets.

MBDA decided to move ahead with the program following the greenlighting of the TWISTER (Timely Warning and Interception with Space-based TheatER surveillance) project, by the Council of the European Union, last week.

“On November 12, 2019, the Council of the European Union gave the green light to the TWISTER capability project for implementation within the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) framework,” the company said in a statement Wednesday.

The European multi-role interceptor is expected to be brought into service by 2030. According to MBDA, the new endo-atmospheric interceptor will address a wide range of threats including, manoeuvring ballistic missiles with intermediate ranges, hypersonic or high-supersonic cruise missiles, hypersonic gliders, and more conventional targets such as next-generation fighter aircraft. It will integrate existing and future land and naval systems.