The British government announced on Wednesday that it will lead a coalition of 12 European countries to develop the next generation of long-range missiles designed to protect Europe.
The announcement has drawn attention to Europe’s capabilities in this field. European countries are not widely known for possessing long-range missiles or maintaining extensive missile development programmes. Britain and France possess the continent’s most significant capabilities, while several other countries operate medium-range systems that are not ballistic missiles.
As Russia expands its ballistic missile capabilities and develops the hypersonic Oreshnik missile, while Iran has also demonstrated ballistic missile capabilities during the recent war, despite their comparatively limited technological sophistication, Europe appears ready to enter a new race to develop longer-range missile systems for its defence.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to reveal further details of the programme during the NATO summit in Ankara.
Why Is Europe Expanding Its Long-Range Missile Capabilities?
A statement from the British Prime Minister’s Office said that 12 countries are preparing to allocate more than $50 billion over the next 10 years to strengthen long-range precision strike capabilities, with the stated aim of improving domestic security and deterring adversaries.
According to the statement, the investments will ensure that NATO possesses advanced weapons capable of striking targets with high precision at ranges of at least 300 kilometres and, in some cases, more than 2,000 kilometres.
Starmer, attending the NATO summit, said Europe must intensify its efforts to make the alliance stronger and more European in character.
Upon arriving in Turkey on Wednesday morning, he stressed the importance of NATO leaders demonstrating the alliance’s unity and strength as the war in Ukraine continues.
Europe’s Relatively Modest Missile Arsenal
Europe’s ballistic missile arsenal remains modest compared with major powers such as the United States, Russia and China. Within Europe, France and the United Kingdom possess independent strategic nuclear capabilities.
Most other European countries operate cruise missiles or US-manufactured short and medium-range defence systems. They generally do not maintain independent long-range missile programmes, largely because of security policies developed within the NATO framework.
Which European Countries Possess Ballistic Missiles?
France
France maintains an independent strategic ballistic missile arsenal and is one of Europe’s nuclear powers. Its nuclear stockpile is estimated at approximately 290 warheads, with much of its deterrent deployed aboard nuclear-powered submarines carrying ballistic missiles.
The M51 is the principal ballistic missile in the French arsenal. It is a submarine-launched, solid-fuel missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads. The missile is approximately 12 metres long and weighs around 52 tonnes.
Its estimated range is between 8,000 and 10,000 kilometres, depending on its payload, placing it within the intercontinental ballistic missile category.
France operates several versions of the missile with varying capabilities, particularly in the number of warheads they can carry. Later versions have also incorporated improvements in range, accuracy and penetration capabilities.
France also possesses the ASMP-A, a long-range air-launched missile capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Although it is not a ballistic missile, it complements the country’s strategic missile arsenal because it can be launched from Rafale fighter aircraft.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom also possesses a ballistic missile arsenal, relying primarily on the US Trident system to deliver its nuclear warheads, which are estimated to number around 225.
The Trident II D5, also designated UGM-133A, is the primary missile in the British strategic arsenal. It is a multi-stage, solid-fuel ballistic missile produced in cooperation with the United States.
The missile has an estimated range of between 7,400 and 11,500 kilometres, placing it in the intercontinental ballistic missile category.
The Missile Threats Facing Europe
Russia’s ballistic missile arsenal is considered one of the most significant threats facing Europe, particularly the high-speed Oreshnik missile, whose emergence surprised both European governments and the wider international community.
The Oreshnik is a hypersonic missile capable of reaching speeds of Mach 10, equivalent to approximately 2.5 kilometres per second. It can reportedly carry between three and six warheads that separate from the missile body and can be independently directed towards different targets with high precision.
Its estimated range is between 3,000 and 5,500 kilometres, making it a significant threat to numerous European capitals. Its extreme speed means potential targets could be reached within minutes, while the ability to intercept the missile remains limited.
The missile was first publicly revealed in late 2024. Russia subsequently used it to strike areas in Ukraine in response to attacks targeting Russian facilities deep inside the country.
