Netherlands eyes joining European weapons programs

The Dutch government is considering joining a European long-range missile project and the French-German MGCS tank development scheme, its defense minister said, Report informs via AFP.

France, Germany, Italy and Poland this summer launched the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA) project to develop a ground-launched missile with a range of several hundred kilometers for deep strikes against enemy positions.

Britain and Sweden have since jumped aboard the plan.

"Regarding the ELSA initiative, we've said as the Netherlands that we are interested in participating," Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans told reporters through an interpreter in Paris after meeting his French counterpart Sebastien Lecornu.

"We think it's essential to increase European capacity," Brekelmans said.

He added that the Netherlands is keen to join the MGCS program, which is intended to produce a new main battle tank for the French and German armies by 2040.