Dutch Startup Destinus Leads European Missile Defense Push

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-14

A Dutch defense tech startup just landed a massive role in Europe's missile defense future. Destinus, based in Katwijk, has been picked as the lead contractor for Bliksem EXO, a project to build Europe's first sovereign anti-missile system that can intercept threats above the atmosphere. This is a big deal. Destinus is the only startup among the five founding partners, which include heavyweights like Airbus Defence and Space, MBDA Deutschland, Safran Electronics & Defense, and Thales. Together, they've signed a Letter of Intent to create the Bliksem EXO Consortium. Their mission? Develop an interceptor that can take out medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles before they re-enter the atmosphere. Think of it as a shield for Europe's skies. ### Why This Matters Now Europe already has lower-layer missile defenses, but there's a gap. Mikhail Kokorich, Destinus' CEO, put it bluntly: "Europe has strong lower-layer missile defences, but it still lacks a sovereign European upper layer against medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles." Bliksem EXO is designed to close that gap. Instead of using an explosive warhead, it would destroy targets through a direct kinetic hit-to-kill impact. That's like catching a bullet with another bullet, but in space. ### The Timeline and Team Joint engineering kicks off in August 2026, and they plan to test the exo-atmospheric kill vehicle in space in 2027. The agreement was signed in Paris at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten present. Here's how the work breaks down among the partners: - Destinus: Overall integration and development of the Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV) - MBDA Deutschland: Interceptor booster, launcher, and canister - Safran Electronics & Defense: Seeker and guidance, navigation, and control systems - Airbus Defence and Space: Command-and-control and battle-management infrastructure (BMC4I) - Thales: Radar and sensor chain, from early warning to fire control ### From Drones to Defense Destinus was founded in 2021 by aerospace entrepreneur Mikhail Kokorich. The company started by making autonomous aircraft and missile systems. Now it's coordinating a complex multinational program with some of Europe's biggest defense players. This is a huge step up. They're headquartered in the Netherlands but operate across Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain, the UK, and Ukraine. ### The Bigger Picture Bliksem EXO is designed to intercept missiles during their midcourse phase, when they're traveling above the atmosphere. It can handle threats like Oreshnik-class missiles with separating and maneuvering re-entry vehicles. Importantly, this system isn't meant to replace existing defenses. It complements them. Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, said: "This system will add a crucial complement to Europe's existing Air and Missile Defence." The system will be fully interoperable with NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence and supports the European Sky Shield Initiative. It's designed to fill that missing upper layer Europe has been lacking. ### What's Next Destinus recently secured EUR 50 million (about $54 million) in bank financing in late 2025, which EU-Startups covered. That funding is helping fuel this ambitious project. For Destinus, this isn't just another contract. It's a chance to prove that a startup can lead alongside industry giants. If Bliksem EXO succeeds, it could reshape how Europe thinks about missile defense. The consortium is moving fast. With engineering starting in 2026 and space tests planned for 2027, they're on an aggressive timeline. Europe's security depends on closing that gap, and Destinus is now at the center of making it happen.