This initiative, formalised through a joint declaration of intent signed during the NATO summit in Washington, signifies a collective European resolve towards equitable burden-sharing and reinforcing the European defence industry. The signatories of this declaration include the defence ministers of France, Poland, Italy, and Germany, with the project operating under the name ELSA (European Long-Range Strike Approach). Previous reports have also indicated potential interest from Spain and Sweden.
Insiders suggest that the forthcoming ground-to-ground weapon could feature a range well beyond 1,000 kilometres, with potential systems including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and hypersonic weapons. The latter category, in particular, demands substantial development efforts.
France’s Missile de Croisière Naval (MdCN), a naval cruise missile, has been proposed as a foundational model for the new standoff weapon during Franco-German discussions preceding the Washington declaration. Manufactured by European missile specialist MBDA, the MdCN could play a crucial role in this new capability. MBDA, a major player in European missile technology, is partly owned by the signatories of the declaration, except Poland, along with the United Kingdom.
