Destinus spearheads initiative to enhance Europe’s missile defense capabilities

Dutch DefenceTech Startup Destinus Leads European Exo-Atmospheric Missile Defence Programme

A groundbreaking multinational project, Bliksem EXO, has appointed Dutch DefenceTech startup Destinus as the consortium lead and prime contractor. This initiative aims to establish Europe’s first sovereign exo-atmospheric upper-layer missile defence programme.

Destinus, based in Katwijk, is the sole startup among the five founding industrial partners, which also include Airbus Defence and Space, MBDA Deutschland, Safran Electronics & Defense, and Thales.

The companies have signed a Letter of Intent to form the Bliksem EXO Consortium and develop an interceptor capable of countering medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles above European airspace.

This significant development follows Destinus’ acquisition of €50 million in bank financing in late 2025, as reported by EU-Startups.

Mikhail Kokorich, CEO of Destinus, stated, “Europe has robust lower-layer missile defences, but lacks a sovereign European upper layer against medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. Bliksem EXO aims to bridge this gap through direct hit-to-kill interception above the atmosphere. Joint engineering activities are set to begin in August 2026, with plans to test the exo-atmospheric kill vehicle in space by 2027.”

The agreement was finalized in Paris during the inaugural meeting of the anti-ballistic coalition at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, attended by Rob Jetten, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands.

For Destinus, this appointment marks a significant transition from producing autonomous aircraft, missile systems, and air defense technologies to leading a complex multinational programme involving some of Europe’s largest aerospace and defense groups.

Established in 2021 by aerospace entrepreneur Mikhail Kokorich, Destinus specializes in scalable strike and air defense systems for European and allied armed forces. The company is headquartered in the Netherlands and operates across various European markets, including Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain, the UK, and Ukraine.

In the proposed division of responsibilities, Destinus will oversee the overall integration of Bliksem EXO and lead the development of its Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle (EKV). MBDA Deutschland will handle the interceptor booster, launcher, and canister, while Safran Electronics & Defense will provide the seeker and guidance, navigation, and control technologies.

Airbus Defence and Space will contribute the program’s command-and-control and battle-management infrastructure (BMC4I), and Thales will develop the radar and sensor chain for early warning, target tracking, and fire control.

Bliksem EXO is designed to intercept medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during the midcourse phase of their flight, above the atmosphere, using a direct kinetic hit-to-kill approach instead of an explosive warhead.

The system aims to address threats posed by Oreshnik-class missiles equipped with separating and maneuvering re-entry vehicles, serving as an upper defensive layer alongside Europe’s existing and planned terminal and theatre missile defense systems.

The program is intended to complement lower-layer capabilities rather than replace them, ensuring full interoperability with NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence and supporting the European Sky Shield Initiative by filling the current gap in Europe’s upper-layer defense.

Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, remarked, “This system will provide a crucial complement to Europe’s existing Air and Missile Defence, ensuring interoperability and scalability with NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence, the ESSI initiative, and other air/missile defense programs.”

The consortium plans to incorporate insights from Ukraine’s experience in countering large-scale air and missile attacks into the system’s design, testing, and evaluation.

Joint engineering activities are scheduled to commence in August 2026, with a planned test of the Exo-atmospheric Kill Vehicle in space in 2027. Prior to advancing these activities, the five companies aim to finalize a binding Consortium Agreement within three months of signing the Letter of Intent.

Rob Jetten, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, added, “Today, Ukraine and nine European countries, along with multiple European defense companies, launched the anti-ballistic coalition. Bliksem EXO, led by Destinus from the Netherlands, is a key industrial component of this initiative, bringing together top European defense companies and leveraging Ukraine’s operational expertise. This collaboration enhances European defense against ballistic threats.”

Destinus’ appointment comes amidst a period of increased investment in European DefenceTech, unmanned systems, and sovereign intelligence infrastructure.

In 2026, EU-Startups covered ten funding rounds totaling approximately €1.50 billion, including Quantum Systems’ €1 billion Series D and ICEYE’s €450 million Series F.

Airbus, responsible for command-and-control and battle-management systems in Bliksem EXO, also co-led the Quantum Systems investment. In the Netherlands, AirHub in Groningen secured €4.4 million to enhance its drone operations software for defense, security, and public-safety organizations.

Destinus’ role as the lead integrator reflects a broader trend in Europe’s defense market, where startups collaborate with established contractors to develop sovereign, interoperable systems for large-scale production and deployment.

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