Europe has led the «Sky Shield» proposal, developed by military experts, which could stop Russian missile attacks and would operate separately from NATO.
Europe has led the «Sky Shield» proposal, developed by military experts, which could stop Russian missile attacks and would operate separately from NATO.
According to the plan, Sky Shield will consist of 120 fighter jets that will be deployed to protect Kyiv and western Ukraine, including Ukraine’s three operating nuclear power plants, as well as Odessa and Lviv. Sky Shield will be led by representatives of the European Air Defense Zone, which will operate separately from NATO, The Guardian reports.
The plan was already being discussed after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022. But a new version of the plan and active discussions began after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Donald Trump, when the US stopped military aid and limited intelligence sharing with Kyiv.
«Heavenly Shield» was supported by:
«The implementation of Sky Shield will be an important component of Europe’s revitalization, guaranteeing effective security for Ukraine,» said Gabrielius Landsbergis.
The solution, developed by military experts, is not expected to provoke a further conflict with Russia, primarily because the planes will protect Ukrainian cities and infrastructure from Russian missiles and drones, potentially acting as part of a «truce in the sky» proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week.
UPD. Mustafa Nayem, Senior Advisor on Anti-Corruption and Reconstruction at Pro-Integrity, spoke in more detail about the Sky Shield initiative.
According to him, the project involves the deployment of 120 modern fighter jets — F-16, F-16AM/BM, Eurofighter Typhoon, Mirage 2000 and JAS 39 Gripen. These aircraft will take off from European bases, performing combat patrols and ensuring the protection of Ukraine from cruise missiles and drones.
The system will also require early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, refueling tankers, and reconnaissance drones to monitor the airspace and promptly transmit data to Ukrainian air defenses.
«SkyShield will open up access to NATO technical standards for Ukraine. Western aviation maintenance and repair centers will appear on our territory, which will simplify integration into the Alliance», — Nayem notes.
