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President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will accelerate the development of long-range weapons alongside European partners in response to Russia's Oreshnik hypersonic missile strikes. The ELSA initiative, launched in 2024 by France, Germany, and Poland, aims to develop long-range strike capabilities.

The Oreshnik was first used in November 2024 against a Ukrainian plant, with mass production starting and deployments to Belarus by late 2025. The missile can carry multiple warheads and travel at speeds ten times that of sound. Macron emphasized the need for Europe to enhance its military credibility.