European defense officials are moving forward to plan a joint, continental ballistic missile defense system, Aviation Week & Space Technology reported yesterday (see GSN, Dec. 20, 2002).

France is pushing the effort and the United Kingdom is involved also, supplementing its agreement this year to allow the United States to upgrade a U.S. radar facility on British soil (see GSN, Jan. 29).  This month France initiated an early warning satellite demonstration program that could cost up to $80 million and is expected to be launched around 2006.  The satellite system is considered a first step to developing a more sophisticated, operational early warning system.

France is also seeking to work with other European nations to develop a medium-range ground radar system, Aviation Week reported.

Last year, NATO approved an investigation of a potential system to defend Europe against missile attack, according to Aviation Week (see GSN, Nov. 26, 2002).

European countries are also investigating a variety of medium-range and extended missile defense systems and interceptors.  France and Italy are developing the SAMP-T/Aster Block 2, which would protect against older, less technologically advanced missiles.  Germany and Italy are involved with Washington in developing the Medium Extended Air Defense System.

Many European missile defense efforts, however, are still in early stages, according to officials.

“First we have to define the menace we want to defend against, then we can determine the system we want to use,” said Michael Petre, a senior French defense procurement official (Taverna/Nativi, Aviation Week & Space Technology, March 31).

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