MBDA has signed a contract with OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'Armement) to kicks off the concept phase of the HYDIS2 (HYpersonic Defence Interceptor Study) programme. The project, financed by the European Defence Fund (EDF) and co-funded by the governments of France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands with €80 million, is aimed at developing an interceptor concept with endo-atmospheric engagement capability that MBDA has renamed AQUILA. MBDA acts as the leader of the industrial consortium bringing together 19 partners and more than 20 subcontractors from 14 European countries. The new system will be used to counter modern missile threats, such as intermediate-range ballistic missiles, surface-to-surface cruise missiles and, above all, hypersonic missiles (gliders and cruise/scramjets). The agreement signed yesterday marks the start of a three-year study phase aimed at identifying the most suitable solution among those being studied by MBDA. Indeed, among the different configurations under evaluation there are a three-stage interceptor with a large booster as the first stage; a two-stage variant, again with a booster; and a further three-stage solution with a booster, ramjet and a smaller booster. No further details have, however, been made public so far.