Germany-led air defence network for Europe gets off the ground

Germany and more than a dozen other countries launched on Thursday a project to build a better European air defence system, as Russia's assault on Ukraine continues to change the continent's security landscape, reported dpa.

"A total of 15 states have come together to organize joint procurements under German coordination with regard to European air defence. It is something where we have gaps," said German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht.

Lambrecht signed a letter of intent with her counterparts to start the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) on the sidelines of a NATO defence ministers meeting in Brussels.

"It is about being interoperable. It is about being able to design prices accordingly. And, of course, it is also about being able to support each other in terms of maintenance," Lambrecht said.

"It's a win-win situation for the countries involved," she added.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the project at the end of August and spoke of a "security gain for all of Europe."

The United Kingdom, Slovakia, Norway, Latvia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Romania and Slovenia are part of the initiative with Estonia wanting to join too, according to diplomats.

The demand for better air defence became pressing following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February.

NATO defence ministers are due to discuss how to deal with threats by Russian President Vladimir Putin to use nuclear weapons in the war against Ukraine, joint efforts to expand the capacities of the defence industry and the protection for critical infrastructure.