Euro allies aiming to rapidly build low-cost air defense weapons

Britain has joined a handful of European allies in a program to develop low-cost air defense systems, including autonomous drones or missiles, with project delivery of the first elements scheduled for as early as 2027.

The Low-Cost Effectors & Autonomous Platforms (LEAP) initiative was launched on February 20 at a meeting of the European Group of Five (E5), comprising ministers from France, Germany, Italy, and Poland, and the UK.

LEAP will oversee the development of advanced low-cost air defense systems, implying there will eventually be more than one type of counter measure developed by the program. The initial focus is an affordable surface-to-air weapon to counter the threat of drones and missiles.

The war in Ukraine has shown the danger posed by relatively low-cost drones, including the Iranian-made Shahed 131, tens of thousands of which were launched against the country by Russia.

Each Shahed is estimated to cost $20,000 ...