Europe proposes artillery interceptor with low-cost rockets to protect key strongholds

In response to the evolving battlefield dynamics seen in the Russia-Ukraine war, European defense firm Destinus has introduced a conceptual ground interception system named "Vorexon." This system is designed to counter the increasing threat of rockets and artillery shells, which, due to their speed and short warning times, are difficult to intercept with traditional methods. The Vorexon system aims to provide a low-cost solution for protecting critical assets such as command centers, air defense radars, missile sites, and ammunition depots.

The ongoing conflict has highlighted a significant cost dilemma in air defense. Russia's high rate of fire, sometimes reaching 10,000 to 20,000 shells daily during peak periods, presents a challenge where the cost of intercepting each projectile with expensive missiles far exceeds the attacker's expenditure. This has led to the concept of "cost exchange rate" in military circles, emphasizing the need for air defense systems to prioritize efficiency over achieving a 100% interception rate.

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Ukraine has proven that it is impossible to intercept every artillery munition, but rather to identify and shoot down the few bodies that truly threaten key targets.

Vorexon is engineered with this principle in mind. It will integrate with external radar and fire control networks to calculate the trajectories of incoming rockets and shells. The system will selectively engage only those projectiles identified as direct threats to vital facilities. During its flight, the interceptor will continuously update target information, utilizing an active radar seeker for terminal guidance. Destinus states that Vorexon is planned to exceed Mach 2 in speed, with a maximum interception range of over 20 kilometers. It will be deployable in fixed or mobile configurations, featuring multi-barrel launchers capable of holding several interceptors, allowing for dispersed deployment across key locations to enhance the survivability of critical infrastructure.

Destinus founder Mikhail Kokorich emphasized that Ukraine's experience demonstrates the infeasibility of intercepting every artillery shell. Instead, he advocates for identifying and neutralizing the few projectiles that pose a genuine threat to critical targets. He believes point-defense systems are only militarily valuable if their protection cost is lower than the enemy's sustained attack cost. Destinus, originally a hypersonic technology company, has pivoted to the defense industry post-Ukraine war, currently producing over 2,000 Ruta cruise missile systems annually, which have seen combat deployment in Ukraine. The company hopes to leverage its mass production capabilities and battlefield experience to penetrate the interceptor weapon market. While Vorexon's concept aligns with Ukraine's use of low-cost drones against Russian UAVs, the faster speeds and shorter warning times associated with rockets and artillery pose significantly higher technical challenges. Destinus aims to achieve key research and development milestones by 2027, but the system's operational deployment remains some time away.

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Point defense systems only have practical military value if the cost of protection is lower than the enemy's sustained attack cost.