The initiative aims to strengthen NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence by facilitating multinational acquisition and integration of air defence capabilities.
Today (15 February 2023), Denmark and Sweden joined the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) coordinated by Germany.
This brings the number of participants to 17, including 15 Allies as well as invitees Finland and Sweden.
Among other things, the initiative aims to strengthen NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence by facilitating the multinational acquisition and integration of a broad range of air defence capabilities by European countries.
A part of ESSI’s envisioned multinational acquisition will be conducted through a Rapid Acquisition Track within NATO’s Modular Ground-Based Air Defence High Visibility Project.
Ten Allied Defence Ministers launched this effort today in parallel through signature of a Memorandum of Understanding and associated funding commitments.