Announced just a year ago, the TWISTER program, for Timely Warning and Interception with Space-based TheatER surveillance, is undoubtedly the most ambitious European program developed within the framework of permanent structured cooperation, or PESCO, of the European Union. Led by France, the program brought together Finland, Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal, at its launch, with the aim of developing a European anti-missile system capable of intercepting new threats, including hypersonic missiles and atmospheric gliders, today beyond the reach of existing anti-missile systems.
Berlin was not actively participating in the program, having only observer status and moreover invested in the TLVS program in cooperation with the United States and based on the Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptor, in order to replace its batteries Patriot acquired in the 90s. But since then, the TLVS program has faced many difficulties, and above all has seen its overall cost soar, to more than € 13 billion according to the latest estimate given by the American Lockheed and its European partner, MBDA Deutschland. Was it this incredibly high price that made Berlin react? Anyway, according to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, Germany joined the European TWISTER program, the latter being judged in accordance with German expectations, by transforming its status of observer into that of partner.
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