Poland, Germany, France and Italy intend to develop a new missile with a range of more than a thousand km
Major European countries have decided to unite to create a new cruise missile with a range of more than 1000 km, which effectively means the end of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
According to the Reuters news agency, the heads of the defense departments of Germany, France, Italy and Poland signed a declaration of intent to implement a new cruise missile project in order to “fill the gap” in the arsenals identified on the basis of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
French Defense Minister Sebastian Lecornu told Reuters about the project. He expressed hope that Great Britain will also join the idea, which will reduce the costs of each participant.
This has value, also at the budget level, because it obviously also allows you to offset various costs
– Lecornu explained the desire to invite London to develop a new rocket.
The head of the French defense department said that the first ammunition project will be ready by the end of this year. Paris proposes to take as a basis the existing sea-based cruise missile MdCN (Missile de Croisiere Naval), which is produced by the large European concern MBDA. This manufacturer’s line includes already proven Taurus, Storm Shadow and Scalp missiles.
Reuters notes that the countries that signed the declaration intend to develop not only an air-launched cruise missile, but also develop a modification for ground launches. It is assumed that Italy will be responsible for the development of land-based missile launchers.
The development of a missile with a range of more than 500 km means that European NATO allies will effectively reintroduce a weapon category banned by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty until 2019
– Reuters summarizes.
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