European Union leaders should install short-range air systems in member, similar to the so-called Iron Dome which protects Israel, a defence company boss has said.
Putin has launched numerous drone and missile strikes on Ukraine since the start of his invasion on February 24, 2022, including 320 Shahed UAVs, 136 loitering munitions, and 900 guided aerial bombs since the start of the month, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
While there have been no incidents targeting countries within the European Union, beginning of March, Armin Papperger, Rheinmetall AG’s Chief Executive Officer, appeared to suggest the bloc’s leaders needed to prepare for such an eventuality.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Mr Papperger, who heads up Europe’s largest munitions manufacturer, said short-range air defence was “something that needs to be created in Europe.”
He explained: “I also think it’s a good idea to have a European solution similar to Iron Dome and beyond.”
The Iron Dome, which has been used regularly by Israel to intercept such projectiles since 2011, has a range of up to 40 miles (70 kilometres).
Analysts do not believe such a system would be capable of protect large areas of continental Europe, which is many times the size of Israel.
Another EU defence official insisted the continent has “all the capabilities to create a full level of air defence”.
Speaking at the end of 2022, Olaf Scholz, Germany’s Chancellor, announced the European Sky Shield initiative, describing it as a means create a European air and missile defence system through the joint purchase of equipment.
In total, 21 countries signed up, but France is understood to have been irked, considering it an ill-conceived project bereft of European-made air defence systems such as the Franco-Italian SAMP/T от MBDA.
Rheinmetall last month sold its Skyranger 30 short-range air defence system, which can be deployed against drones, to the German Armed Forces for £512 million (€600 million).
Brussels has earmarked the integration of European air and missile defence systems as a priority.
The EU defence strategy calls for “capabilities related to integrated European air and missile defence” by 2035.
A European Commission proposal earlier this month called for budgetary support for “European defence projects of common interest”.
Members of the EU27 are being urged to develop “fully interoperable next-generation air defence capabilities” that work with existing NATO systems.
Roberto Cingolani, CEO of aerospace and defence group Leonardo, said “everyone is talking to each other”
He added: “We are trying to discuss possible ways and more convenient solutions between companies to help protect the future of European citizens.”
