(USNewsBreak.com) – Countries utilize many different types of weapons while engaging in war. One of the most common is missiles, projectiles capable of doing significant damage if they hit their target. There are many types, including short, intermediate, and long-range, guided, ballistic, and cruise missiles. Four European nations have now signed a plan to develop a new long-range cruise missile that will help fill the strategic needs of their arsenals.
On Thursday, July 11, France, Poland, Germany, and Italy signed a letter of intent to develop long-range cruise missiles that can reach beyond 300 miles, with the ultimate goal being between 600 and 1200 miles. The goal is to sketch out the missile design by the end of the year and to fill in the intricate details at a later date. According to French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, the countries plan to use the new weapon as a deterrent. With the escalating situation in Ukraine and NATO’s recent warning to China, tensions are at an all-time high.
For many years, the signing of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 1987 banned the missiles. However, that went by the wayside in 2019, when former President Donald Trump withdrew from it, citing Russia’s noncompliance — a claim it adamantly denied — and China’s efforts to build up its military and pose more of a threat. That treaty outlawed ground-launched missiles, both conventional and nuclear, with a range between 300 and 3,400 miles. This new development would bring them back. Considering the treaty is no longer valid, it wouldn’t be in violation.
The day before the announcement, Washington and Berlin had one of their own. In 2026, observers expect the US to deploy its long-range missiles to Germany, including Tomahawks, the SM-6, and hypersonic weapons. That statement drew ire from Russia, which said the move was a “very serious threat” to that country’s national security.
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