European Sky Shield Initiative - Defence Industry Europe

Austria plans to strengthen air defence with long-range system

The Austrian government announced its intention to bolster national air defense by acquiring a long-range air defence system for its armed forces.

Defence Ministers from 10 NATO Allies came together on Wednesday (11 October 2023) to sign a memorandum of understanding to further develop the European Sky Shield Initiative. Under Germany’s leadership, the initiative aims to bolster European air and missile defence through the joint acquisition of air defence equipment and missiles by European nations. This will strengthen NATO’s integrated air and missile defence.

ESSI: further step to boost European air and missile defence capabilities

Air, Important / By Defence Industry Europe

“European Sky Shield Initiative, under Germany’s leadership, shows the value of Allies stepping up to meet NATO’s requirements, while ensuring interoperability and integration,” said NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană.

German lawmakers have authorized advance payments of up to 560 million euros ahead of the planned purchase of Israel's Arrow 3 missile defense system. The system, designed to intercept ballistic missiles outside of the Earth's atmosphere, serves as the top layer of Israel's comprehensive missile defence array. The decision comes as Germany aims to bolster its defense capabilities and address the shortage of ground-based air defense systems in many Western nations amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Arrow 3 system: the highest layer of the European Sky Shield Initiative

Air / By Defence Industry Europe

The Arrow 3 missile defence system will be fully integrated with the other systems that form the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI).

Visiting Diehl Defence in Röthenbach (Germany), the Estonian and Latvian Ministers of Defence, Hanno Pevkur and Ināra Mūrniece, have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the German Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius, on their future participation in the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI).

Diehl Defence – a key industry partner of the European Sky Shield Initiative

Air, Top / By Defence Industry Europe

Diehl Defence is a keen supporter of ESSI and will be ready to supply any of its ground-based air defence systems.

Three defence ministers have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding their participation in the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), which focuses on procurement. They also reached an agreement to promote research cooperation in the armaments field, according to a statement from the Swiss government.

Switzerland, Austria, and Germany sign MoU on European Sky Shield Initiative

Air, Top / By Defence Industry Europe

Three defence ministers have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) regarding their participation in the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI).

Raytheon Technologies was awarded a $1.2 billion foreign military sales contract from the U.S. Army to provide Switzerland with the Patriot air defence system. With the sale, Switzerland becomes the 18th global Patriot partner and the eighth European country to choose the system as the backbone of their air defence.

Austria to join European Sky Shield Initiative

Air, EU, Important / By Defence Industry Europe

Austria intends to join the European Sky Shield Initiative, a pan-European air and missile defence project led by Germany.

Switzerland has expressed its intention to participate in the European Sky Shield Initiative established by Germany in 2022. According to Reuters, the move has raised criticism due to Switzerland's long-standing tradition of neutrality.

Switzerland intends to join the European Sky Shield Initiative

Air, Important / By Defence Industry Europe

Switzerland has expressed its intention to participate in the European Sky Shield Initiative established by Germany in 2022.

On February 15, Denmark and Sweden joined the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) coordinated by Germany. This brings the number of participants to 17, including 15 Allies as well as invitees Finland and Sweden. Among other things, the initiative aims to strengthen NATO's Integrated Air and Missile Defence by facilitating the multinational acquisition and integration of a broad range of air defence capabilities by European countries.

Denmark and Sweden join the European Sky Shield Initiative

Air, Important, NATO / By Defence Industry Europe

“Germany’s leadership through the European Sky Shield Initiative, leveraging already existing NATO cooperation frameworks, is a crucial step to ensure that NATO can effectively defend itself against air and missile threats,” said NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană.

"Sweden will join the 15-country joint missile defence initiative launched at the Meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence in October – the European Sky Shield Initiative," said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at the Folk och Försvar Annual National Conference in Sälen on 8 January 2023.

Sweden to join the European Sky Shield Initiative

NATO, Important / By Defence Industry Europe

“Sweden will join the 15-country joint missile defence initiative launched at the meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence in October – the European Sky Shield Initiative,” said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

The 15 countries are moving closer toward setting up the so-called European Sky Shield Initiative as they seek to build better defence capabilities in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

European Sky Shield Initiative: Germany and NATO allies agree to procure air defence systems

Land, Important / By Defence Industry Europe

Germany and more than a dozen other states intend to launch a cooperation project to establish a European air defence system.