June 20, 2026: For decades European nations have been depending on cruise missiles from America. Early efforts to develop their own cruise missiles were mixed. The French Apache runway destruction missile entered service in 2001 but was soon withdrawn from service as soon as it was realized that several Apaches were required to disable a single runway at an enemy airbase and that the range of Apache was not sufficient to avoid enemy air defenses. The French ASMP-A cruise missile entered service in 2010 to replace earlier and similar ASMP. ASMP-A has a range of 500 kilometers, but all 54 missiles built are armed with nuclear warheads. A more successful cruise missile was the German Taurus KEPD 350, which entered service in 2006 as a 1.4 ton air-launched land-attack and anti-ship missile. With a range of 500 kilometers, the 480 kg Taurus warhead can penetrate earth and concrete to explode inside bunkers or underground storage sites. The guidance and terminal targeting system cannot be jammed. The missile finds its way to the target with a terrain-following sensor that follows ground features. In the terminal attack, the warhead is equipped with a sensor that can recognize targets and attack the most important ones. So far 1,200 of these missiles have been built. Taurus has been exported to Spain and South Korea.

One of the more popular and European missiles is the 1.3 ton air-launched Anglo-French Storm Shadow/Scalp. Entering service in 2022 and expected to be replaced by 2032. With a range of 550 kilometers and a 450 kg warhead, it uses terrain following to reach its target. So far over 4,000 have been built and the final total is expected to be more than 5,000. Nine other countries use this missile, including Ukraine. France also developed a cruise missile version of Scalp called Missile de Croisière Navale or naval cruise missile. This 1.4 t0n missile has been in service since 2017 in a 1,400 kilometer range version for frigates and since 2022 and a 1,000 kilometers range version for submarines.

Since 2021 Norway has been producing the air launched JSM/Joint Strike Missile. This is a 416 kg missile with a 120 kg warhead and a range of 555 kilometers. This is a version of the 2012 400 kg Naval Strike Missile with a range of 300 kilometers and a 120 kg warhead. Both missiles are used by America and at least five other export customers.

Some European countries have been using American air/ship/submarine launched cruise missiles. These include a 1.5 ton Tomahawk air launched version with a range of 2,500 kilometers and a 450 kg warhead. Tomahawk has been around since 1983 and gone through several upgrades, especially to its terrain following navigation system. Nearly 10,000 missiles have been built so far. Current export operators are the Netherlands, Britain and Japan.

Other American cruise missiles include the air-launched 370 AGM-148 JASSM and JASSM ER with ranges of 370 kilometers and 1,000 kilometers respectively. A ground penetrating warhead is available. With a stealthy design, these missiles fly low to avoid radar and use jam proof INS plus GPS for navigation. Terminal guidance includes a seeker that can detect and home in on specific targets or types of targets. Introduced in 2003, 7,500 basic and ER missiles have been produced so far. The AGM-84 SLAM-ER is a 674 kg air launched cruise missile with a range of 270 kilometers and a 350 kg warhead. Targets include ships and land facilities. While navigation can be automatic, a human operator can monitor and change the course. In service since 2000, this missile will be replaced sooner rather than later. Export customers include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Taiwan and South Korea.

The new European missiles include the Netherlands Ruta Block 3 air launched cruise missile with a 2,000 kilometer range and a 250 kg warhead. For the last two years Ukraine has been receiving hundreds of the Ruta 1 that has a range of 300 kilometers and a 240 kg warhead. Earlier this year, the Ruta 2, appeared with a range of over 800 kilometers and a 250 kg warhead. Ruta 3 is in development and has a longer range and larger warhead.

European defense firm MBDA is developing a cruise missile similar to the American Tomahawk that is expected to enter service before the end of the decade.