MBDA has entered into a cooperation agreement with Poland’s WITU to advance the development of the Counter Mass Interceptor, a missile intended to provide European forces with an economical response to increasingly numerous airborne threats. The memorandum of understanding was signed during MSPO 2026 and calls for cooperation on a missile design that would be developed and produced in Poland while remaining suitable for high-volume manufacturing.Initial testing has already taken place at a Polish test facility. During the trials, the interceptor’s seeker was evaluated against different types of drone targets to determine its ability to detect and track representative threats. With the seeker testing completed, the component will now be incorporated into a WITU-designed prototype missile.The development programme is expected to continue through additional trials before the first planned live firing campaign in 2027. The CMI weighs approximately 53 kilograms and is designed as a supersonic interceptor. MBDA first displayed the weapon publicly at the Farnborough International Airshow in July.Under the current programme structure, MBDA UK will lead the early development work. Manufacturing arrangements have yet to be finalized, but production could take place within MBDA or involve other industrial partners. The broader objective is to deliver a Polish-developed, cost-effective interceptor capable of being produced in large numbers for European customers facing drone, helicopter and cruise-missile threats.
