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Is Europe's newly tested hypersonic missile the answer to Russia?

2026-02-11 16:32:02Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Europe's hypersonics successfully completes a Mach 6 test in Norway, aiming for mass production by 2029 as EU pushes for greater defense autonomy. Can it compete with the Kremlin's alleged superweapon?

A German-British defense startup has successfully tested Europe's first privately developed hypersonic missile in Norway, reaching speeds exceeding Mach 6 and marking a milestone in European efforts to develop advanced weapons independently of the United States.

Hypersonica announced on Monday that its prototype rocket accelerated to more than 7,400 kilometers per hour and flew over 300 kilometers during a test flight on February 3 at Andøya Space in northern Norway.

The Anglo-German company said that all systems operated nominally throughout the climb and descent, with performance validated down to the subcomponent level at hypersonic speeds.

"Hypersonica has reached an important milestone on our path towards developing Europe's first sovereign hypersonic strike capability by 2029," co-founders Philipp Kerth and Marc Ewenz said in a statement.

The test comes as European countries accelerate defense spending following Russia's deployment of its Oreshnik hypersonic missile system, which Moscow has used twice against Ukraine since November 2024.

Russia struck western Ukraine with its Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile on January 8, hitting critical infrastructure in the Lviv region near the Polish border.

The Ukrainian Air Force said the missile traveled at approximately 13,000 kilometers per hour. This was Russia's second use of the Oreshnik, following a November 2024 attack on Dnipro amid its ongoing war in Ukraine, which is now approaching its four-year mark.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the attack as "unacceptable", while EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said it was "a warning to Europe and the US".

The Oreshnik can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads, with a reported range of up to 5,500 kilometers. Russia has deployed the system in Belarus.

Germany increases defense spending

Germany's 2026 budget foresees approximately 108.2 billion euros in defense spending, divided between 82.7 billion euros in the regular defense budget and 25.5 billion euros from a special fund created after Russia's full invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

The budget marks a historic increase from around 95 billion euros in 2025 and more than doubles spending compared to 2021.

Merz has pledged to reach 3.5% of GDP on defense by 2029, making the German military the strongest conventional force in Europe.

Military procurement saw the biggest budget increase, rising by 16.8 billion euros and accounting for 27% of defense spending. The budget calls for 10,000 new soldiers and 2,000 civilian positions.

The German government has prioritized European procurement, with only about 8% of contracts expected to go to American manufacturers, according to reports.

Changing Europe's defense

Europe's dependence on US defense equipment has grown significantly in recent years. According to the Stockholm-based peace research institute SIPRI, US arms imports to Europe tripled between 2020 and 2024 compared to the previous five years.

For the first time in two decades, the majority of US arms exports went to Europe, increasing from 13% in 2015-2019 to 35% in 2020-2024.

European NATO states doubled their arms imports during this period, with two-thirds coming from the US.

The European Defence Fund work programme for 2026 includes €168 million for hypersonic countermeasures and high-end endoatmospheric interception capabilities.

Hypersonic missiles, defined as those that fly faster than five times the speed of sound while remaining maneuverable in the atmosphere, present significant challenges for air defense systems due to the extreme heat generated by their high speed.

Military and defense experts have debated for years whether hypersonic missiles will change the balance of military power between the United States and Europe on one side and China and Russia on the other.

The Munich-based startup, founded in December 2023 by Oxford University PhD graduates Kerth and Ewenz, Hypersonica employs 50 people and maintains a branch in London.

Hypersonica said its modular architecture enables development cycles measured in months instead of years, reducing costs by more than 80% compared to conventional defense programs.

The company aims to have missiles ready for deployment by 2029, in line with NATO and the UK's hypersonic frameworks for 2030.

Euronews.com


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