Agreement Between France, Germany, Italy, and Poland for Development of Long-Range Cruise Missiles.

On July 11 2024 in Washington, during NATO's 75th anniversary summit, France, Germany, Italy, and Poland signed a letter of intent to jointly develop ground-launched cruise missiles with a range exceeding 500 km. This initiative aims to address what these nations perceive as a gap in European arsenals, a concern highlighted by the conflict in Ukraine.
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Cruise missiles, unlike ballistic missiles, fly at low altitudes, making them more difficult to detect by radar (Picture source: MBDA)

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu stated that the new missile would serve as a deterrent. He expressed hope for broader participation in the project, suggesting that the new British Labour government might also join. Lecornu highlighted the economic benefit of this collaboration, which would allow for the amortization of costs among participating nations.

During this announcement, Lecornu also mentioned that initial drafts of the missile could be ready by the end of the year, with detailed specifications such as the exact range to be finalized later. This statement came a day after Washington and Berlin announced they would begin deploying U.S. long-range missiles on German soil in 2026, including SM-6s, Tomahawks, and developmental hypersonic weapons.

This development occurs as Russia has been accused of violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), prompting the United States to withdraw from the agreement in 2019. The INF Treaty, signed in 1987, banned nuclear and conventional ground-launched missiles with a range of 500 to 5,500 km. The reintroduction of this category of weapons by NATO allies is seen as a direct response to emerging threats and Russian military developments.

Cruise missiles, unlike ballistic missiles, fly at low altitudes, making them more difficult to detect by radar. Paris has proposed basing the new missile on a modification of its existing naval cruise missile, the MdCN, developed by MBDA. MBDA, a European defense company, is owned by Franco-German Airbus, British BAE Systems, and Italian Leonardo.

Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that this cooperation would not only allow for the sharing of expertise but also for joint purchases of missiles currently under development. He also expressed hope that more countries would join the initiative, highlighting the importance of international collaboration for the development of deep-strike capabilities and the reduction of costs and production timelines.