European Sky Shield Initiative
European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) is a project to build a ground-based integrated European Anti-aircraft warfare, air defence system which includes anti-ballistic missile capability. 22 European states participate in the initiative. Background The initiative was originally proposed by the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz in August 2022. The proposal was made during the 2022–2023 Russian strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure and amid increased concerns about the limited European capability to defend against such threats as the Russian 9K720 Iskander ballistic missile systems deployed in Kaliningrad. In October 2022, fifteen European states (Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, the United Kingdom) signed a declaration to join the German-led initiative. It would involve joint procurement of the air defence systems. As of 2024, all founding states are members ...
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