European Sky Shield Initiative

Current Context : Switzerland formally joined the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), after approvals from the Swiss Federal Council and other government bodies.

About ESSI

• It is a collaborative project aimed at developing a common air defense system for European countries.
• Launched in 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
• Aim : to create a coordinated air and missile defense system for Europe.
• Leadership & Key Technology : Led by Germany, ESSI focuses on a multi-layered air defense system. A central component is the Arrow 3, a missile defense system developed through Israeli-American collaboration, capable of intercepting long-range ballistic missiles​