Five European countries are proposing the development of a new, short-range, air-to-air missile capable of countering future combat aircraft. 

Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain and Sweden have jointly launched the Future Short-Range Air to Air Missile (FSRM) initiative through the European Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) framework. PESCO encourages nations to cooperate on future defense programs, with an eye on potentially securing backing for the weapon’s development from the European Commission’s (EC) European Defense Fund. The FSRM project, which initially will develop concepts and operational requirements for a future weapon, is one of 11 new PESCO projects announced on May 23. 

The five nations, coordinated by Germany as the project lead, are linked by the fact that they currently use Diehl’s IRIS-T short-range, infrared, air-to-air missile. It equips the Eurofighter Typhoons of Germany, Italy and Spain, and the Saab Gripens of Hungary and Sweden. 

The FRSM would “counter modern fifth-generation and future sixth-generation combat aircraft and airborne threats,” the program’s description says. 

As well as the future missile work, the nations also have launched a Next Generation Medium Helicopter (NGMH) project. The French-led effort, which also includes Finland, Italy and Spain, aims to provide “coherent solutions” for future EU rotorcraft capabilities among the development of new platforms and upgrades of existing ones. The project is the third program relating to future rotorcraft now underway in Europe, after NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC), being led by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency; and the European Next Generation Rotorcraft Technologies Project (ENGRT). ENGRT includes a series of studies led by European industry and funded by the European Defense Fund.  

Another project is the Integrated Multi-Layer Air and Missile Defense (Imlamd) system. It is led by Italy and supported by France, Hungary and Sweden to develop a new concept for Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) and battle management.  

Meanwhile, France, Hungary, Italy, Portugal and Spain are proposing the development of a European Defense Airlift Training Academy (EDA-TA). It would be a network of three schools to offer a European solution for military air transport pilot training. 

As well as the approval of the new projects through PESCO, the European Council also has OK’d the acceptance of Denmark into the PESCO initiative after the country’s referendum lifted its opt out from EU defense cooperation. 

Copenhagen opted out of Europe’s Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) in 1992, preferring NATO membership as its primary tool for security and defense. But Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland’s and Sweden’s historic decision to join NATO, and the Danish government’s calls for closer alignment with the EU have shifted Danish public opinion toward closer integration.  

“PESCO is at the core of our defense cooperation,” said Josep Borrell, EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy. “With Denmark joining the PESCO family and 11 new projects adopted today, we are expanding and deepening our cooperation ... this enables member states to invest together, develop needed capabilities and prepare our forces.”