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European Partnership in Air and Missile Defense: European Sky Shield

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On October 13, 2022, fourteen of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries (Germany, Great Britain, Slovakia, Norway, Latvia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Belgium, Czechia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia, and Finland, agreed to develop a joint air and missile defense system. The European Sky Shield Initiative, led by Germany, seeks to establish a European air and missile defense system through the joint acquisition of air defense systems and missiles by European countries.

The European Sky Shield Initiative is viewed by NATO as a program to strengthen NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defense, which was established to protect its members against all forms of air and missile threats or attacks during peacetime, crises, and conflicts.[1]

The European Sky Shield Initiative signing ceremony took place at NATO’s Brussels headquarters. During the ceremony, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said, “With this initiative, we are living up to our joint responsibility for security in Europe- by bundling our resources.”[2] In other words, it was emphasized that all European countries should work together to ensure European security in the face of Russian aggression.

As is well known, the Russian-Ukraine War forced Germany to undergo a military transformation, after which it resolved to increase its military expenditure. The choice to expand military spending, as well as the supportiveness of the United States of America (US), has made Germany the engine power of Europe’s defenses. Germany’s leadership in the establishment of a joint air defense system with fourteen nations’ participation is attributed to NATO’s European leadership; this may be interpreted as a reflection of the desire to reinforce this leadership.

The Russia-Ukraine War demonstrated the importance of controlling and protecting the country’s airspace against potential threats from air-to-ground, sea-to-land, or land-to-ground aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, various types of missiles, and rockets, as well as the ability to respond to preventively in the event of a threat.

The Russian-Ukrainian war has made it clear that air superiority is one of the most important factors that affect new-generation warfare since it affects the course and the outcome of the war. In truth, the Moscow administration, which has a big air force, anticipated that it would conclude the Ukrainian incursion quickly; nevertheless, the duration of the conflict was prolonged owing to Russia’s incapacity to maintain air dominance in Ukraine, which received Western support. The inability to foresee when the conflict would conclude makes Europeans increasingly concerned about the Russian threat.

The perception of threat provides a solid basis for both arming Europe and legitimizing Ukrainian aid in the eyes of the public. For example, following the explosion on the Kerch Bridge connecting Crimea to Russia on October 8, 2022, Russia launched missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles at many locations in Ukraine. Ukrainian forces were unable to shoot down missiles and required further air defense capabilities.

Air defense is effective yet costly. Due to the economic woes of Europe, no one expected Europe to help Ukraine. However, the Berlin administration promised Ukraine four IRIS-T SLM Air Defense Systems and decided to deliver the first one.[3] On the other hand, support for enhancing airspace defense has grown in European nations to defend populations, cities, vital structures, and ground soldiers from airborne attacks, and Germany has been able to respond swiftly to the establishment of a joint European air defense alliance.

Three air defense systems are mentioned in the European Sky Shield Initiative in the fight against Russian air power. These are Israel/Arrow 3, the US/MIM-104 Patriot, and the German/IRIS-T SLM. The first thing to note about the Arrow 3 Anti-Ballistic Missile System is that it is financially and otherwise supported by the US. The system’s initial trial was completed in Alaska in 2019 with a US-Israel collaboration. Arrow 3, which defends the atmosphere against all forms of ballistic missiles traveling at high altitudes and speeds, provides a long range due to its hypersonic capabilities. In addition to its multi-target acquisition and tracking capabilities, it can perform preemptive intervention by processing radar data.[4]

The US Patriot system is a long-range air defense system that can be used at all altitudes and weather conditions to counter tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and advanced aircraft.[5]

The German IRIS-T SLM is capable of destroying any form of aircraft, helicopter, cruise missile, guided weapon, air-to-surface missile, anti-ship missile, anti-radar rocket, or large-caliber rocket. At very short and medium-range distances, it also has a high possibility of destroying unmanned aerial vehicles, unmanned combat aerial vehicles, and other small maneuvering threats.[6]

When all of these features are considered, as well as the continued Russian threat, Europe will receive a robust air defense system with these systems. This may persuade European nations who are hesitant to invest much in the development of military capabilities to join the European Sky Shield.

The economic burden of countries will be reduced as the number of participants increases, and an edge will be gained in the positioning of geographical expansion systems. It can also serve as a deterrence for all nations or groups that represent a danger to the European continent and Russia.

A final issue that needs to be mentioned regarding the establishment of Europe’s joint air defense system is the signatory states. While France, one of Europe’s most powerful countries, is not among these nations, Finland, which is not a NATO member, is counted among them. Finland is awaiting the conclusion of its membership processes to be included in NATO’s security umbrella against the Russian threat. Thus, Finland’s geographical location, which shifted its neutrality in favor of the Atlantic alliance during the Russia-Ukraine War, is significant. Russia has nuclear facilities in some locations close to the Finnish border. In recent years, when discourse about Russia planning a nuclear strike has intensified, Finland stands out in European security from a geostrategic standpoint.

The fact that France is not involved in the European joint air defense system is explained by the fact that it relies on the deterrent effect of its nuclear arsenal rather than traditional anti-ballistic missile systems.[7] However, France’s absence from the European Sky Shield Initiative might be due to other factors. Paris had already devised various concepts for the development of an autonomous European defense and wished to assume leadership of such an alliance. The fact that Germany has increased its military capacity has been treated with caution for historical, psychological, and political reasons.[8] Therefore, France’s non-participation in a defense alliance led by Germany coincides with its traditional policies.

In conclusion, as a result of Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, European nations have begun to strengthen their military capabilities. The course of the war has shown that European air defense is essential for ensuring European security against the Russian threat. In this context, Germany’s European Sky Shield Initiative has made a major step forward in the enhancement of European air and missile defense. The West has fortified its European flank with the European Sky Shield, which is not an alternative to NATO, but rather complementary to NATO.

[1] “14 NATO Allies and Finland Agree to Boost European Air Defense Capabilities”, NATO, https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_208103.htm, (Date of Accession: 15.10.2022).

[2] Sabine Siebold, Germany, “NATO Allies Aim to Jointly Procure Air Defense Systems”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-13-nato-allies-aim-jointly-procure-air-defence-systems-2022-10-13/, (Date of Accession: 15.10.2022).

[3] “Germany to Deliver Air Defense System to Ukraine Within Days -Defense Ministry”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-deliver-air-defence-system-ukraine-within-days-defence-ministry-2022-10-10/, (Date of Accession: 15.10.2022).

[4] “Arrow 3 Air Defense Missile System, Israel”, Airforce Technology, https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/arrow-3-air-defence-missile-system-israel/, (Date of Accession: 15.10.2022).

[5] “Patriot Missile Long-Range Air-Defense System”, Airforce Technology, https://www.army-technology.com/projects/patriot/, (Date of Accession: 15.10.2022).

[6] “IRIS-T SL Surface-to-Air Guided Missile”, Airforce Technology, https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/iris-t-sl-surface-to-air-guided-missile/, (Date of Accession: 15.10.2022).

[7] Martin Herrera Witzel, “Twelve European States Poisoned to Join Scholz’s Anti-Missile Shield”, Euractiv, https://www.euractiv.com/section/all/short_news/twelve-european-states-poised-to-join-scholzs-anti-missile-shield/, (Date of Accession: 15.10.2022).

[8] Gamze Bal, “France’s Attitude towards Germany’s Decision on F-35 Purchasing”, ANKASAM, https://www.ankasam.org/frances-attitude-towards-germanys-decision-on-f-35-purchasing/?lang=en, (Date of Accession: 15.10.2022).

Gamze BAL
Gamze BAL
Gamze BAL has completed her undergraduated education at Sakarya University, Department of International Relations. Afterward, she has completed his master in Sakarya University with a dissertation titled “The European Union’s Policy on Palestine-Israel Issue in Post 1992”. Between 2021 and 2022, she studied doctoral program in European Union at Institute of Social Sciences, Istanbul University. At the present time, Bal pursuing a PhD in international relations at Instıtute of Graduate Program, Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University. Having advenced level in English, her main research areas are European Union, security, ethnic conflicts, means of conflict resolution.