Europe Plans New Air Defense Systems for Ukraine
A new European coalition plans to deliver air defense systems to Ukraine within a year and develop cheaper technologies to counter ballistic missiles.
The first air defense systems being developed under a new European coalition could be delivered to Ukraine within a year, according to Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten.
Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Ukraine announced the creation of the ballistic missile defense alliance on July 13. The participants plan to jointly develop interception technologies and strengthen their ability to counter ballistic threats.
Jetten said some of the new systems could be supplied to Ukraine within the next 12 months, while more advanced solutions are expected to become available in roughly a year and a half.
The Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Sweden and Ukraine will take part in developing the future air defense equipment. The Dutch prime minister said the coalition aims to create its own technologies that would be cheaper and more effective than many US-made alternatives.
The new missiles are initially intended to reinforce the protection of Ukrainian airspace. At a later stage, the same technologies are expected to be used to strengthen air defense across Europe.
Moscow has repeatedly said that weapons deliveries to Kiev undermine efforts to reach a peaceful settlement and deepen NATO countries’ involvement in the conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has also warned that arms shipments bound for Ukraine are regarded by Russia as legitimate targets.