European Sky Shield Initiative

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European Sky Shield Initiative
  Founding members (2022)
  Joined in 2023/2024
TypeRegional Military Initiative
Established on13 October 2022; 18 months ago (2022-10-13)
Members
21 countries
Area3,697,779.6 km2 (1,427,720.7 sq mi)
Population382,234,470

European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) is a project to build a ground-based integrated European air defence system which includes anti-ballistic missile capability. As of January 2024, nineteen European states participate in the initiative. Greece and Turkey are expected to formally join in 2024.

Background

The initiative was originally proposed by the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz in August 2022.[1] The proposal was made during the 2022–2023 Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure and amid increased concerns about the limited European capability to defend against such threats as the Russian 9K720 Iskander ballistic missile systems deployed in Kaliningrad.[2][1]

In October 2022, fifteen European states (Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, the United Kingdom) signed a declaration to join the German-led initiative.[3] It would involve joint procurement of the air defence systems.[3] As of 2024, all founding states are members of NATO, with Finland's accession into the alliance occurring in 2023. The initiative also aims to strengthen the NATO Integrated Air Defence System.[4] In February 2024, the German government announced that Greece and Turkey would join the initiative.[5]

In February 2023, Denmark and Sweden joined the project.[6] In July 2023, neutral states Austria and Switzerland signed the declaration to join the initiative, raising questions about the future and practicalities of their policy of neutrality.[7]

France has been challenging the initiative, citing too much reliance in current plans on non-European equipment and technology. It was suggested that the French government is dissatisfied that the French-Italian SAMP-T system is excluded from ESSI.[8] In June 2023, France made a counter-proposal and has been calling for other countries to examine the alternatives.[9] As of July 2023, several major European states, namely France, Poland, Italy, and Spain did not make a decision to join the ESSI. In April 2024, Poland plans to join a project to develop a European-wide air defense system to deter potential drone and missile attacks, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.[10]

Capability

Launch of an Arrow 3 missile

The ESSI will use multi-layered defence, with the following systems planned:[7]

In December 2022, the German Chancellor expressed a hope that the system will be developed in the next five years.[11] In June 2023, the German Bundestag authorized nearly €4 billion for the acquisition of Arrow 3 anti-ballistic missile system from Israel.[12] The contract was signed in November 2023.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Sprenger, Sebastian (29 August 2022). "Scholz revives vision for German-led air defense network in Europe". Defense News. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  2. ^ "We have reached a defining moment in our support for Ukraine". European Defence Agency. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Germany, 14 NATO allies agree to procure air defense systems". Deutsche Welle. 13 October 2022. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  4. ^ "14 NATO Allies and Finland agree to boost European air defence capabilities". NATO. 13 October 2022. Archived from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  5. ^ Drozdiak, Natalia; Milligan, Ellen (15 February 2024). "Germany Says Turkey and Greece to Join Missile-Defense Project". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  6. ^ "European Sky Shield Initiative gains two more participants". NATO. 15 February 2023. Archived from the original on 9 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  7. ^ a b Foulkes, Imogen (7 July 2023). "Neutral Swiss and Austrians join Europe's Sky Shield defence". BBC News. Archived from the original on 7 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  8. ^ Abboud, Leila; Pitel, Laura; Foy, Henry (19 June 2023). "France summons allies in challenge to German-led air defence plan". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  9. ^ Vincent, Elise; Ricard, Philippe (19 June 2023). "France outlines counter-offer to Germany's anti-missile defense project". Le Monde. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  10. ^ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-15/poland-plans-to-join-europe-s-iron-dome-like-air-defense-plan
  11. ^ More, Rachel (8 December 2022). Murray, Miranda (ed.). "Germany's Scholz wants air defence shield in next five years - Funke". Reuters. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Germany OKs Israeli Air Defense System Procurement". The Defense Post. 15 June 2023. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  13. ^ Fiorenza, Nicholas (24 November 2023). "Israel signs Arrow contract with Germany". Janes.com. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
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