Germany Advances "Sky Shield" Air Defense System, Next Step in May

Germany's Defense Minister has announced that the next major step towards the "Sky Shield" air defense system will be taken at the end of May 2023. This development comes as part of a broader European coalition effort to jointly purchase air defense systems for protection against potential missile attacks by Russia.

The coalition, which includes Germany, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovenia, Latvia, and the Netherlands, was formed in response to the heightened threat highlighted by the heavy use of cruise and ballistic missiles in the Ukraine war. Switzerland is also considering joining the coalition.

The most likely purchases for the "Sky Shield" system will be existing air defense solutions such as the American Patriot, the European IRIS T, the Norwegian NASAMS, and the Israeli Arrow system. These systems have seen significant combat experience and improvements in recent conflicts, making them more capable against ballistic missile threats.

Why this matters: The joint procurement of advanced air defense systems by European nations constitutes a significant step towards enhancing the continent's security and deterrence capabilities in the face of evolving threats. The collaboration also underscores the importance of collective defense and burden-sharing among allies.

The NASAMS system, in particular, has been praised for its flexible architecture that allows integration with a wide variety of radars and air-to-air missiles. The German-developed IRIS T system offers a more cost-effective alternative to NASAMS, and both systems have proven their effectiveness in intercepting Russian missiles during the Ukraine conflict.

As the German Defense Minister prepares to announce the next major step in the "Sky Shield" project at the end of May, the coalition of European nations remains committed to strengthening their air defense capabilities through joint procurement and collaboration. This unified approach aims to provide a more robust and integrated defense against the growing missile threat posed by potential adversaries.

Key Takeaways

• Germany to take next step in "Sky Shield" air defense system in May 2023.
• European coalition formed to jointly purchase air defense systems against Russian missiles.
• Likely purchases include Patriot, IRIS T, NASAMS, and Arrow systems with combat experience.
• Joint procurement aims to enhance Europe's security and deterrence capabilities.
• NASAMS and IRIS T systems praised for flexibility and cost-effectiveness in Ukraine.