A German-British defense startup has successfully conducted the inaugural test of Europe’s first privately developed hypersonic missile in Norway, achieving speeds that surpass Mach 6. This landmark event represents a significant step forward in Europe’s ambition to independently develop advanced military capabilities, distancing itself from reliance on the United States.
Successful hypersonic test and military implications
On February 3, Hypersonica announced that its prototype missile reached velocities exceeding 7,400 kilometers per hour during a test flight that covered over 300 kilometers at Andøya Space in northern Norway. According to the company, all systems functioned as intended throughout both the ascent and descent phases, validating the performance of components at hypersonic speeds.
“Hypersonica has achieved a major milestone on our pathway to developing Europe’s first sovereign hypersonic strike capability by 2029,” co-founders Philipp Kerth and Marc Ewenz remarked in a statement.
This successful test comes at a critical juncture as European governments ramp up defense expenditures in response to Russia’s deployment of its Oreshnik hypersonic missile system. Since November 2024, this system has been employed twice against Ukraine, including a significant strike on critical infrastructure in the Lviv region on January 8, where it reportedly traveled at speeds around 13,000 kilometers per hour. This marked Russia’s second use of the Oreshnik, following an earlier attack in Dnipro.
Germany’s defense budget increases
In light of these developments, Germany is significantly boosting its defense budget for 2026, allocating approximately €108.2 billion, an increase from around €95 billion in 2025. This budget includes regular defense expenditures and additional funding established in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has set a goal for defense spending to reach 3.5% of Germany’s GDP by 2029, thereby positioning the German military as the strongest conventional force in Europe. The military procurement segment saw a substantial increase of €16.8 billion, now accounting for 27% of total defense spending. This budget also plans for the recruitment of 10,000 new soldiers and 2,000 civilian positions.
In a strategic shift, the German government has prioritized European defense procurement, with reports suggesting that only around 8% of contracts are expected to be awarded to US manufacturers.
Recent analyses from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) indicate a marked increase in Europe’s reliance on US defense equipment, with arms imports from the US to Europe more than tripling between 2020 and 2024 compared to the previous five years. Notably, the share of US arms exports to Europe surged from 13% during 2015-2019 to 35% in 2020-2024.
The European Defence Fund has earmarked €168 million in its 2026 work program for hypersonic countermeasures and advanced interception capabilities, underscoring the urgency of addressing the challenges posed by hypersonic missiles, which fly at speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound and present significant threats to existing air defense systems.
Founded in December 2023 by graduates from Oxford University, Hypersonica employs a workforce of 50 and operates a subsidiary in London. The company claims that its modular design allows for rapid development cycles, decreasing costs by over 80% compared to traditional defense programs. Hypersonica aims to have its missiles operational by 2029, aligning with NATO and UK objectives for hypersonic capabilities by 2030.