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

The article reports that the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Poland launched the Low-Cost Effectors & Autonomous Platforms (LEAP) initiative on February 20 to develop affordable air-defense systems—focusing initially on surface-to-air weapons to counter drones and low-cost missiles—with initial deliveries possible as early as 2027; the program emphasizes speed, adaptability, involvement of SMEs, and complements other UK programs and spending on long-range and hypersonic weapons, including Project Nightfall and partnerships on missiles such as Stratus.