Overview
- Defence ministers from France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom unveiled the joint LEAP initiative in Kraków with commitments to co-invest, develop, produce and procure.
- Officials said they aim to move some effectors into production within about 12 months, with the first LEAP project planned for delivery in 2027.
- Initial work will focus on a lightweight, affordable surface-to-air weapon to counter drone and missile threats, with proposals sought from major manufacturers and small and medium enterprises.
- The program draws on lessons from Ukraine’s warfighting, including AI-enabled payloads and interceptor drones as lower-cost defensive options.
- The E5 backed expanding Europe’s defence industrial capacity, welcomed EU fiscal flexibility and NATO coordination, and the UK announced GBP 13 billion in military aid to Ukraine.