Defense ministers from Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, and Sweden have signed a letter of intent to jointly develop an affordable long-range loitering munition capable of striking targets beyond 500 kilometers. The project will be carried out under the European Long-range Strike Approach (ELSA) framework and aims to create a one-way attack system for deep precision strikes against high-value objectives such as enemy air defense systems and logistics centers.
The proposed munition, designated One Way Effector 500 Plus, is expected to carry a warhead weighing approximately 50 kilograms. To reduce production costs, one concept under review involves adapting standard 155mm artillery shells as warheads, with a projected unit cost in the five-figure range. The initiative will explore the feasibility of a shared base platform that can accommodate nationally tailored payloads, while manufacturing could be distributed among participating countries to improve industrial resilience and scalability.
Although designed with affordability in mind, the system is expected to function autonomously without manual in-flight guidance, potentially allowing a single operator to launch multiple munitions at once.
The growing focus on one-way attack drones reflects lessons from the war in Ukraine, where Russia has employed Iranian-designed Shahed drones to target Ukrainian air defenses and infrastructure. This operational experience has intensified Western interest in similar capabilities.
European firms have accelerated development efforts, including MBDA’s One-Way Effector and Helsing’s HX-2. France has already placed an order with MBDA, with deliveries scheduled to begin in mid-2027. Meanwhile, Germany is expected to select the HX-2 for a new mechanized brigade deployed in Lithuania. The MBDA system reportedly offers a 500-kilometer range, while the HX-2 is designed for engagements up to 100 kilometers.
Berlin is also considering the ELSA effector for integration into a future Multi-Domain Task Force planned for 2029. Beyond loitering munitions, the broader multinational initiative launched in response to the Ukraine conflict includes plans for airborne early warning platforms, air-based strike systems, and European-developed multiple rocket launcher capabilities.
