A group of seven European countries plans a joint development and procurement proposal for a European ground-launched long-range weapon at the upcoming NATO Summit on July 9-10.
The proposal was discussed at a June 24 meeting of the defense ministers of the Weimar Triangle states, which comprise Germany, France, and Poland.
A letter of intent is expected to be signed during the summit along with the UK, Spain, Italy, and Sweden, laying the foundation of the European Long Strike Approach (ELSA).
European Long-Range Strike Approach
ELSA is a proposed French initiative featuring an expected range of over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles).
The Ukraine war demonstrated the need for a ground-launched deep-strike capability as Russian ballistic and cruise missiles pounded Ukrainian cities from stand-off ranges.
The capability’s absence is attributable to a significant drop in overall defense spending by NATO allies (minus the US) after the Cold War, falling 20 percent following the global financial crisis of 2008.
Land Cruise Missile
Meanwhile, MBDA unveiled a long-range ground-launched cruise missile earlier this month, based on the operational Naval Cruise Missile (NCM).
The NCM’s range of 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) makes the proposed Land Cruise Missile a candidate for the ELSA initiative.
