Recent events have brought attention to the growing concerns about missile systems, particularly the need for Europe to strengthen its defense capabilities.
With the growing threat of missile attacks, many European nations, including Poland, are calling for the return of previously abandoned missile systems to bolster their defense.
On November 20-21, 2024, Russia used the Oreshnik missile, a medium-range missile, to strike a reportedly abandoned missile factory in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.
This was in response to the U.S. decision to send ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, allowing the country to strike Russian targets.
Following this, Ukraine launched counterattacks on Russian territory, destroying Russian S-400 air defense systems and other targets.
Russia then responded with about 100 missiles aimed at Ukrainian targets. Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that a missile attack of this magnitude could be equivalent to a nuclear strike, although many believe Russia is hesitant to use actual nuclear weapons due to the potential consequences.
In Europe, the current capabilities for launching strikes beyond 300 km are limited. Some of the key systems available include the French NCM missile and the British-French Storm Shadow missile, both capable of hitting targets at considerable distances.
The NCM missile, with a range of up to 1,400 km, is launched from naval platforms, while the Storm Shadow is an air-launched missile with a range of 550 km. However, both systems are in limited supply.
Ballistic missiles in Europe are even rarer. The U.S.-made ATACMS system and the Korean CTM-290 are among the few that can strike long-range targets.
Other countries like Poland are working on developing short-range ballistic missile technology.
Meanwhile, the ELSA initiative, launched by NATO, is working toward creating medium-range missile systems for European countries, which would significantly enhance their defense capabilities.
New European missile programs, such as the MBDA LCM missile and future versions of the Storm Shadow, could provide Europe with more strategic capabilities.
Additionally, France is exploring the development of a new ballistic missile with a range of over 1,000 km, which could offer a European response to Russian missile threats.
However, these projects still face uncertainty, particularly concerning the potential inclusion of nuclear warheads.
In addition to these high-tech missile systems, Poland has introduced a more affordable option with the Warmate 50, a light cruise missile with a range of up to 1,000 km.
This could be a cost-effective alternative to more advanced systems, complementing Europe’s missile defense.
