On social media appeared entries suggesting that Poland was not allowed into the European long-range project. The alleged exclusion was to be the consequence of opposition from Germany. In fact, Poland is not only part of the European Long-Range Strike Approach task (ELSA), but is besides 1 of its initiators.
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Source: x.comEuropean Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA)
In July 2024 at the NATO summit in Washington Poland, France, Germany and Italy appointment The ELSA long-range impact capability cooperation initiative. ELSA's signatures were the defence ministers of those countries. Initiative joined later besides the UK and Sweden.
Source: x.comELSA is simply a consequence to the Russian advantage in the field of long-range land missiles. Objective The task is to make a European projectile launched from land with a scope of 1000 to 2000 kilometres. In addition, ELSA assumes strengthening the European defence manufacture and reducing dependence on the US. In May, Mr Jean-Louis Thiériot, associate of the Defence Committee of the National Assembly of France, reportedthat the ELSA programme should be selected in June this year.
Poland is presently an active associate in the programme. There is no information supporting its alleged exclusion or blocking.
Long-range missiles
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 highlighted a gap in European impact capabilities. Having long-range systems is simply a fundamental ability to defend and deter. Although the ELSA countries have no European NATO member, but Turkey, already has a conventional projectile fired from the ground with a scope of more than 300 kilometres.
Meanwhile, Russia's armed forces use respective types of specified missiles. These include a 9K720 Iskander ballistic rocket with a scope of 500 km and a 9M728 maneuvering rocket with a scope of 2,500 km. Depending on the deployment, these systems are capable of attacking targets across Europe.
In addition, in the context of production Europe relies heavy on the United States. The ELSA task so aims not only to bridge the gap in European deterrence capacity, but besides to strengthen the European defence manufacture and reduce dependence on the US.
Summary
In July 2024, Poland, France, Germany and Italy initiated the European Long-Range Strike Approach project. The task was rapidly joined by the UK and Sweden. ELSA is Europe's consequence to Russia's long-range terrestrial advantage. It aims not only to bridge the gap in European deterrence capacity, but besides to strengthen the European defence manufacture and reduce dependence on the US.
Entries suggesting that Poland was not allowed into the European long-range task are false. Contrary to any reports, Poland belongs to the ELSA task and is besides 1 of its initiators. There is no information supporting its alleged exclusion or blocking.
Sources
Ministry of Armed Forces of France: ELSA press release
International Institute for strategical Studies: Europe’s rocket renaissance
DefenseNews: Europe’s long-range strike task nears choice of lead contractors
Reuters: Four European nations agree to jointly make long-range cruise missions
War on the Rocks: Europe, Deterrence, and long-range strike
