Long-Range Strike Missile Demand in Europe on MBDA’s Radar

MBDA, the pan-European missile manufacturer, is positioning itself as the leading candidate for developing a long-range European strike missile. This initiative comes in response to the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA), a French-led program that Germany, Poland, and Italy joined at the recent NATO summit in Washington.

Key points of the ELSA initiative include envisioned missile range of over 1,000 kilometers, aim to provide NATO with a “deep precision strike” capability, and joint development and procurement among participating nations.

Also read this: Otokar’s Cobra II Armored Vehicles Acquired by Saudi Arabia

MBDA unveiled its Land Cruise Missile at the Eurosatory defense show, highlighting a “unique European sovereign solution” for land based deep strike capability, stealth and terrain-following capabilities, based on naval cruise missile technology used by French forces, with a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers.

MBDA is the largest European missile maker with 2023 revenue of €4.5 billion and an order book of €28 billion at the end of last year. It is a pan-European joint venture between Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo, with an existing portfolio that includes Scalp/Storm Shadow and Taurus missiles.

The French government cites MBDA as a successful model for European defense cooperation. Poland is in dialogue with allies regarding long-range strike capabilities, with Polish involvement contingent on alignment with national capacity development needs.

The U.S. plans to deploy long-range fires units to Germany by 2026, including SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles, plus developmental hypersonic weapons.

The development of a European long-range strike missile represents a significant shift in the continent’s defense strategy, driven by the changing security landscape following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. MBDA’s strong position in the market and its existing technological capabilities make it a frontrunner for this project.

Keep connected with us at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram & TikTok for latest defense happening around the globe.