European armed forces need a change? EU authorities are now certain
On Tuesday, November 14, the Steering Board of the European Defense Agency convened a meeting. During this session, defense ministers from the 27 EU member states reached a consensus on priority areas for military capacity development. The overall intent is to strengthen European armed forces, with some recommendations borrowing from lessons learnt in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
4:41 PM EST, November 15, 2023
A total of 22 priority areas were agreed upon at the European Defence Agency's Steering Board meeting in Brussels on November 14. The defense ministers of the 27 EU member states envision these areas as key to strengthening the European armed forces. The European Defense Agency (EDA) explains that these priorities reflect military realities observed in Ukraine, align with EU defense objectives, and should spearhead specific projects.
The updated Capability Development Priorities (CDP), a cornerstone document for EU-wide defense planning and all related initiatives, highlights "fourteen priorities in five military areas and eight related to strategic factors and multipliers." The specific areas are:
The European Defense Agency suggests that a combination of persistent underinvestment and limited European cooperation has resulted in significant gaps in the EU's defense capabilities. Therefore, it's crucial to map new action plans, taking into account the evolving strategic environment. This, in part, has been inspired by the Russian aggression against Ukraine, which influenced the planning of future priorities.
According to the EDA, the conflict happening at the EU's borders has highlighted the need for "agile, mobile, technologically advanced, energy-efficient, and resilient full-spectrum land forces". Equally significant is a well-integrated, multi-layered anti-aircraft and missile defense system, coupled with a balanced approach to quality and quantity across various domains of military capability.
Land forces should depend on precise attacks
The EDA emphasizes enhancing the range, precision, and mobility of precise land attacks. This includes increasing stockpiles of high-caliber ammunition, advanced anti-tank missile systems, and close-range fire support. Cybersecurity resilience is another area the EDA is focusing on, considering the rapid communication and data transfer requirements on modern battlefields.
Current events in Ukraine demonstrate how modern artillery like the HIMARS system, known as the "god of war", simplifies combat against numerically superior opponents. Moreover, its range allows shelling from a safe distance, which reduces risk. Notably, Poland has ordered 486 M142 HIMARS launchers for its 27 HOMAR-A rocket artillery divisions, due for delivery starting in 2025. The Polish Army is also expected to receive 218 South Korean K239 Chunmoo rocket launchers between 2023 and 2027.
Air defense is a necessity
The EDA underscores the importance of an integrated air and missile defense system. This involves modernizing existing air defense systems and developing new-generation systems equipped with space early warning systems and capabilities to counter unmanned air systems. Even makeshift drones, constructed from readily available commercial devices, can pose serious threats on the battlefield. Accurate data management, utilizing satellite data, is another essential aspect of modern warfare, as illustrated by Poland's use of reconnaissance data provided by the Italian COSMO SkyMed constellation. From 2027, Poland is expected to access reconnaissance data from its own satellites per a contract signed with France in December 2022.
New dimensions of naval warfare
The EDA emphasizes the significance of advancements in underwater and seafloor warfare. Promoting improvements in seabed warfare, underwater defenses, and submarine combat actions are prioritized and facilitated by advanced autonomous vehicles and surveillance systems. This broadens the naval battlefield, as demonstrated by the Ukrainian use of maritime drones.
Such unmanned devices, designed for kamikaze missions, like the Marichka drones, are a constant threat to Russian soldiers in occupied Crimea. As previously reported, Russian fear of Ukrainian attacks has led to extensive fortifications in Crimea, including not only traditional defense systems and torpedo nets, but also trained dolphins.
At the moment, the European Union lacks its army, possessing only limited powers regarding the security and defense of its member states. The European Parliament's Committee on Constitutional Affairs recently suggested expanding these powers. However, the proposal does not have unanimous approval, prompting a media clash between former Defense Minister Tomasz Siemoniak and current Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak. While Siemoniak welcomed the recommendations, Błaszczak commented, "They want to hand defense matters over to Brussels". Siemoniak, however, reminded him that the PiS chairman, who a few years ago supported a European army, was quite pro-EU.
