Defense ministers of the European Union signed four letters on cooperation in the field of defense in Brussels. They envisage deepening the cooperation of the member states in the field of air and anti-missile defense, electronic warfare, munitions and surface ships.
On Tuesday, the defense ministers of the European Union countries approved the annual report on defense in the European Union, so-called. CARD. It defines the possibilities of cooperation of the member states for the joint development of basic military capabilities.
The adoption of the report for the first time is accompanied by the signing of letters of intent by member states in four areas: air and missile defense, electronic warfare, ammunition and surface ships.
– The CARD report for 2024 is clear: national efforts, while necessary, will not be enough. The geopolitical landscape makes our cooperation more important than increasing the cost of preparing for a major war. Josep Borrell, the head of diplomacy of the European Union and the head of the European Defense Agency, said that the total defense costs of the member states in 2024 will reach 1.9 percent of the GDP of the EU.
In Brussels, defense ministers signed letters on defense cooperation OLIVIER HOSLET/PAP/EPA
He believes that additional defense funds should be spent as effectively as possible, and it would be useful to use some of them through joint investment of European capabilities.
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– We have identified specific opportunities for cooperation, and the member states are taking action, which is confirmed by four letters of intent signed by the ministers of defense to take specific measures in these specific directions, – he emphasized.
Development of cooperation in the field of air and missile defense
The scope of the letter of intent includes joint acquisitions, renewals and renewals, as well as long-term development of future opportunities. They can be implemented through the European Defense Agency or as part of the so-called Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) projects.
Regarding Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD), several member states (including Poland) have announced their intention to cooperate by purchasing anti-aircraft systems against drones, anti-aircraft defenses and ground-based munitions.
In the medium term, member states want to develop technologies to counter drone swarms and high-speed threats. In the long term, they plan to build a “robust IAMD architecture.”
In the case of electronic warfare, several member states (including Poland) have also confirmed their willingness to jointly increase their capabilities through joint procurement of equipment, creation of information exchange platforms and development of common doctrines, training and exercises. In the long term, they want to focus on developing future systems, especially for jamming and anti-jamming.
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When it comes to ammunition, several countries of the European Union (including Poland) intend to purchase these systems together and work on their further development. They will also work on the use of these systems by creating operational concepts, as well as conducting joint training, exercises and tests.
As for the European warship, several member states have announced their intention to develop the next generation of ships. They plan to harmonize requirements, develop a business plan and prepare for joint procurement by 2040.
Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) is key to protecting Europe's critical infrastructure, urban areas and armed forces from a growing range of air threats, including ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial systems.
Electronic warfare plays a key role in modern conflicts, making it possible to disrupt enemy communications and sensors, protecting allied forces from detection and jamming. This can ensure information integrity and protect security.
Regular shots are versatile systems that combine intelligence gathering with precision strikes. Recent military operations have confirmed the potential of this capability.
Main photo credit: OLIVIER HOSLET/PAP/EPA
