On the sidelines of the recent NATO summit in Washington, Poland, France, Germany, and Italy signed a letter of intent to collaborate on the development of a new long-range cruise missile with a range exceeding 500 kilometers. This initiative aims to foster long-range precision strike capabilities and facilitate joint projects for specific defense solutions. Additionally, this initiative aims to address a perceived gap in European arsenals exposed by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The Polish Ministry of National Defense announced the signing on Thursday. The Letter of Intent, titled “European Long-Range Strike Approach,” was signed by the defense ministers of the four participating countries.
“The primary objective,” according to the press release, “is to establish cooperation in developing this crucial deep strike capability. Additionally, we aim to pursue joint projects on specific solutions that address gaps, reduce costs, and expedite implementation timelines.”
French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu highlighted the deterrent effect of the new missile. He further hinted at the potential inclusion of Great Britain, particularly with its newly elected Labour government.
These missiles will allow to engage targets deep within enemy territory and will play a critical role in Ukrainian long-range strikes, targeting Russian ammunition depots, fuel supplies, and command posts, played in disrupting the Russian offensive.
While the initial project aims for a prototype by the end of 2024, specific details regarding range and other capabilities are still under development. Currently, Europe’s long-range missile arsenal relies on the French-British Scalp/Storm Shadow and the German Taurus.
The joint development program aspires to create a missile with a range between 1,000 and 2,000 kilometers. As a potential starting point, France has proposed a modified version of the MdCN naval cruise missile manufactured by the European defense company MBDA, which is also responsible for the Taurus and Scalp/Storm Shadow missiles.
Earlier, on July 11, the US Air Force announced it is accelerating the development of a new weapon named “Extended-Range Attack Munition”, specifically designed to aid Ukraine in its fight against Russia.
