Dutch Startup Leads Europe's Anti-Missile Defense Project

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-14

A Dutch defense tech startup just got handed a massive responsibility. Destinus, a company based in Katwijk, Netherlands, has been chosen to lead a new multinational project called Bliksem EXO. The goal? Build Europe's first-ever missile defense system that operates above the atmosphere. Think about that for a second. A startup, not a giant defense contractor, is now the prime contractor for something this big. That's rare. And it says a lot about how much trust Destinus has earned in just a few years. ### What Is Bliksem EXO Exactly? Bliksem EXO is designed to intercept medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles while they're still in space, during the midcourse phase of flight. Instead of blowing up the target with an explosive warhead, the system uses a direct kinetic hit-to-kill impact. Basically, it slams into the missile at high speed and destroys it on impact. Here's why that matters: - Europe already has lower-layer defenses, but no sovereign upper layer. - Medium- and intermediate-range missiles can fly above those lower defenses. - Bliksem EXO fills that gap by intercepting them above the atmosphere. The consortium behind it includes some of Europe's biggest names in aerospace and defense: Airbus Defence and Space, MBDA Deutschland, Safran Electronics & Defense, and Thales. Destinus is the only startup among them. ### Who's Doing What? The work is split among the partners. Destinus will oversee the overall integration of the system and lead development of the Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV). MBDA Deutschland handles the interceptor booster, launcher, and canister. Safran provides the seeker and guidance, navigation, and control tech. Airbus builds the command-and-control and battle-management infrastructure (BMC4I). Thales develops the radar and sensor chain, from early warning to fire control. Mikhail Kokorich, CEO of Destinus, put it plainly: "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 through direct hit-to-kill interception above the atmosphere. Joint engineering begins in August 2026, and we intend to test the exo-atmospheric kill vehicle in space in 2027." ### Why This Matters for Europe Europe has been relying on allied systems for upper-layer missile defense. That's a vulnerability. If a threat comes from medium- or intermediate-range ballistic missiles, Europe currently doesn't have its own way to stop them above the atmosphere. Bliksem EXO changes that. The system is designed to be fully interoperable with NATO's Integrated Air and Missile Defence and the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI). It's not replacing anything. It's filling a gap. Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, said: "This system will add a crucial complement to Europe's existing Air and Missile Defence. By contributing our Command-and-Control and Battle Management System, we ensure proven interoperability and scalability with NATO's Integrated Air and Missile Defence, the ESSI initiative, and other current air/missile defence programmes." ### A Startup's Big Leap Destinus was founded in 2021 by aerospace entrepreneur Mikhail Kokorich. It started by making autonomous aircraft, missile systems, and air defense tech. Now it's coordinating a complex multinational program with some of the biggest players in the industry. That's a huge step up. And it didn't happen overnight. The company secured about $55 million (€50 million) in bank financing in late 2025, which gave it the resources to take on this role. The agreement was signed in Paris during the first meeting of the anti-ballistic coalition at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, with the Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten present. ### What's Next? Joint engineering kicks off in August 2026. The consortium plans to test the exo-atmospheric kill vehicle in space by 2027. If successful, Bliksem EXO will give Europe a sovereign capability it currently lacks. For Destinus, this is a defining moment. It's no longer just a startup making cool tech. It's leading a mission that could change how Europe defends itself.