Under the current Council Decision, FRS will publish a series of Research Papers on the various aspects of the Code, as well as short Issue Briefs to highlight specific thematic and regional issues, and a major technical study. To find out more, go to our Project Activities
On 3 February 2026, the Anglo-German startup Hypersonica conducted the first hypersonic test flight of its SCOOTER HS-1 demonstrator from Andøya Space.
On 12 February 2026, Arianespace successfully carried out the first heavy-configuration flight of the Ariane 64, marking an important step in the development of the European launcher.
China’s CERES-2 program faces a major setback as its first launch fails, highlighting the technological challenges in developing medium-class launchers.
Entre montée des ambitions spatiales et diffusion de technologies à double usage, l’Afrique se trouve confrontée à de nouvelles vulnérabilités stratégiques. Dans ce contexte, le Code de conduite de La Haye offre un cadre de soft law permettant de concilier transparence, prévention de la prolifération et légitimation des ambitions technologiques au sein des architectures régionales de sécurité.
Read news of the Code, updates on our recent activities and latest information about ballistic missile tests and space launches.
Missile defence has become increasingly attractive in recent years, following the demonstration of its efficacity in the Israeli-Iranian conflict, and has epitomised by the ambitious Golden Dome programme. However, its relationship with missile proliferation is ambiguous. Arms control, non-proliferation and confidence building measures can to some extent address some of the most destabilizing features of this offense-defence competition.
This report, written by the HCoC Youth Group, addresses four dimensions of missile proliferation: regional concerns, transfer to non-state actors, transformation of regulatory tools, and relations to space security. It studies in particular how these developments could impact the way the Hague Code of Conduct tackles missile proliferation and proposes ways forward.
Read news of the Code, updates on our recent activities and latest information about ballistic missile tests and space launches.
This paper recalls the state of ballistic missile proliferation at the time of the adoption of the Code, before delving into the genesis of the Code and especially the various reports and meetings that promoted the adoption of a supply-side multilateral instrument. It describes the conferences and diplomatic efforts that led to the Code in 2002. It also explains why the Code ended up the way it is today with modest ambitions but concrete outcomes.
In the field of arms control and non-proliferation, ‘emerging technologies’ are commonly perceived as creating potential threats that may make it even more difficult to prevent arms racing and regulate global competition. Given the dual-nature of the Hague Code of Conduct, space developments must also be considered to assess the adaptability of the regime to new technologies.
The generalisation of ballistic missiles as conventional weapons, used regularly as an alternative to air strikes, cruise missiles or even drones, conducts to a new reflection on the role of the Code in the current environment.
Read news of the Code, updates on our recent activities and latest information about ballistic missile tests and space launches.
Read news of the Code, updates on our recent activities and latest information about ballistic missile tests and space launches.
This paper recalls the state of ballistic missile proliferation at the time of the adoption of the Code, before delving into the genesis of the Code and especially the various reports and meetings that promoted the adoption of a supply-side multilateral instrument. It describes the conferences and diplomatic efforts that led to the Code in 2002. It also explains why the Code ended up the way it is today with modest ambitions but concrete outcomes.
Read news of the Code, updates on our recent activities and latest information about ballistic missile tests and space launches.
Read news of the Code, updates on our recent activities and latest information about ballistic missile tests and space launches.
As a multilateral instrument, the HCoC holds a particular place in a global architecture of measures that attempts to reduce the destabilising nature of ballistic missiles. By promoting transparency about policies and launches, it aims to limit the risk of misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and worst-case assessments.
After listing major programmes and key drivers beyond the acquisition of these technologies, this paper considers their development under the prism of arms control, and analyses whether current mechanisms (non-proliferation arrangements, bilateral arms control treaties and confidence-building measures) dealing with missiles are adapted to these weapons.
This study focuses on the new systems introduced, and assesses their potential impact as conventional weapons and as non-conventional weapons. Through an analysis of the possible capacities of these systems, this study examines their consequences on North Korean strategy. It concludes by exploring what this change of strategy may lead to, in military terms, and in political terms, on the Korean peninsula.
Since its inception and through the collective outreach efforts of its Chairs, the Executive Secretariat, the EU and the United Nations, the Hague Code of Conduct has received growing support. It has improved its efficiency and implementation through a series of initiatives which have made it more easily accessible.