MBDA Aquila

AQUILA is the first interceptor concept MBDA has designed specifically to counter hypersonic threats, which include manoeuvring ballistic missiles, hypersonic cruise missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles. It is conceived as a land-based and ship-based endo-atmospheric interceptor that would complement the ASTER missile family. The design uses three stages, a booster accelerator, a cruiser and a kill vehicle, with thrust modulation in the cruise phase and agile kill vehicle control for precise terminal guidance. It is being developed under the HYDIS programme, which is supported by the European Defence Fund, co-funded by France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, coordinated by MBDA and managed by OCCAR, with 19 partners and more than 30 subcontractors from 14 countries. MBDA lists it as in development.