Cooperation with our NATO partners on the development of enhanced
strike capabilities within the Alliance is crucial to maintaining
our collective security.
Communiqué proposal to be endorsed by the Defence
Ministers of ELSA Nations:
Two years ago, the Defence Ministers of France, Germany, Italy,
Poland, Sweden and the United Kingdom decided to launch the
European Long-range Strike Approach.
By launching this approach, the Ministers recognized that the
ability to conduct conventional long-range strikes had become a
critical capability in contemporary warfare that is crucial to
have at disposal. Our common ambition was to pave the way for
short to long-term cooperation for the European defence
industrial and technological base to develop, produce and deliver
the appropriate equipment, in appropriate numbers, within an
appropriate schedule.
The work undertaken over the past two years led us to identify
most relevant capabilities addressed in distinct clusters,
covering the whole spectrum of long-range strike, from sensors to
effectors of various ranges and launch platforms. Within each
cluster, nations gathered to agree on common requirements and to
define potential and interoperable solutions and approaches to
enable timely capability development.
Several clusters have now reached a level of maturity which will
allow them to continue as standalone ELSA Implementation Groups
(EIG). Within these groups, further work will take place under
the leadership of the respective Lead Nation(s), focusing on
development and procurement projects, building upon an
established network of national experts exploring continued long
range strike collaborations, including with new
partners.
These clusters include - with some of them having already been
translated to cooperation projects:
- Airborne Early Warning capability
- Long Range SEAD capability
- Air-launched long-range strike capability
- Euro Multi Missile Launcher
- Ground-launched long range strike system 300-500km
- Ground-launched long range strike system 500-2000km
- Ground-launched long range strike system 2000km+
- Low-cost long-range strike 500km+ capabilities based on
one-way-attack effectors
Through its concrete results, ELSA has proven effective by first
relying on a small core of nations to accelerate convergence of
requirements and achievable solutions, then expanding and
enabling cooperation projects to emerge thus serving as an
incubator to strengthen European defence in the crucial domain of
long-range strike.
Therefore, the Defence Ministers of France, Germany, Italy,
Poland, Sweden & the United Kingdom have agreed today to mark
the transition of ELSA into standalone ELSA Implementation
Groups, underscoring that ELSA represents a meaningful
advancement in European cooperation in the field of long-range
strike capabilities.
The six nations reaffirm their intention to undertake significant
efforts to enhance long-range strike capabilities, as well as
their determination to accelerate their acquisition and
development to rapidly strengthen Europe's capabilities.
