European States Launch Common 500-Km+ One-Way Attack Drone Initiative
The defense ministers of Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Poland, and Sweden have signed a letter of intent to jointly develop a low-cost loitering munition with a range exceeding 500 kilometers (311 miles).
To be developed under the European Long-range Strike Approach (ELSA) initiative, the one-way attack effector is intended for deep precision strikes against high-value targets, including enemy air defenses and logistics hubs.
According to Hartpunkt, the program will assess the feasibility of a shared platform capable of integrating country-specific payloads, with production potentially distributed across participating nations to enhance scalability and resilience.
Designated One Way Effector 500 Plus, the munition is expected to carry a warhead of around 50 kilograms (110 pounds). To minimize costs, one proposal involves using conventional 155mm artillery shells as warheads, with a target unit price in the five-figure range.
Despite its emphasis on affordability, the system is expected to operate without manual guidance, with a single operator reportedly able to deploy dozens of munitions simultaneously.
One-Way Attack Drone
The effectiveness of one-way attack drones has been demonstrated in the Ukraine war, where Russia has employed Iranian-designed Shahed systems to strike Ukrainian air defenses and infrastructure — an experience that has drawn growing attention from Western militaries.
European developers have since accelerated efforts in this domain, including MBDA’s One-Way Effector and Helsing’s HX-2.
France has already contracted MBDA for the One-Way Effector, with initial deliveries planned for mid-2027, while HX-2 is expected to be selected by Germany to equip a newly established mechanized brigade stationed in Lithuania.
The One-Way Effector is reported to have a range of 500 kilometers (311 miles), while HX-2 is designed to engage targets at ranges of up to 100 kilometers (62 miles).
According to Hartpunkt, Berlin is also considering the ELSA one-way effector to arm a battery within a future Multi-Domain Task Force planned for establishment in 2029.
Beyond loitering munitions, the multi-country initiative launched in response to the Ukraine war seeks to develop airborne early warning systems, air-based strike capabilities, and European multiple rocket launcher solutions.
