France and Germany Launch JEWEL Initiative to Build Europe’s Own Early Warning Missile Detection Network

France and Germany have officially launched the JEWEL initiative (Joint Early Warning for a European Lookout)—a joint effort to establish an independent European early warning system for detecting and tracking missile threats. On October 15, 2025, French Minister for the Armed Forces and Veterans Catherine Vautrin and German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) formalizing the bilateral cooperation, marking the formal beginning of a program long discussed within European defense circles.

The JEWEL project is envisioned as a cornerstone of Europe’s emerging missile early warning capability, bridging the gap between reliance on American systems and Europe’s aspiration for sovereign strategic intelligence. While the United States’ space-based missile warning network, including the SBIRS (Space-Based Infrared System) and Next-Gen OPIR satellites, currently provides NATO with critical early warning data, JEWEL seeks to create a complementary European pillar within NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) architecture.

A Sovereign European Watchtower

At its core, the JEWEL system will combine space-based infrared sensors, ground-based radar networks, and command-and-control (C2) infrastructure to create a multi-layered detection grid. This network will be capable of identifying ballistic and hypersonic missile launches in their early stages, tracking their trajectories, and relaying precise data to command centers within seconds.

Unlike existing European systems, which depend heavily on U.S. satellite feeds, JEWEL’s architecture aims to establish independent detection and warning chains under European control. Data collected by the satellites will flow into a real-time analytical network, enabling rapid threat classification, early interception planning, and the attribution of missile launches—a crucial factor in crisis response and deterrence.

The space component will be the centerpiece of JEWEL’s architecture. Both nations will develop and deploy one or two interoperable satellites each, equipped with advanced third-generation digital infrared sensors capable of detecting even low-signature launches, including hypersonic glide vehicles and next-generation cruise missiles. The satellites will likely operate in geostationary orbit, ensuring continuous coverage of Europe’s extended neighborhood, including the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Eastern frontiers.

Foundations for a European Constellation

France and Germany’s bilateral agreement includes the creation of a “preliminary interoperability backbone”, a secure data exchange network allowing seamless sharing of detection information between the two countries. This digital backbone is designed to serve as the foundation for future participation by other European nations, particularly those already involved in the ODIN’S EYE program, an EU-funded project aimed at developing a Europe-wide missile early warning capability.

JEWEL’s first phase will focus on space-based assets, followed by integration with terrestrial radar stations, data fusion centers, and national air defense networks. The goal is to achieve Initial Operational Capability (IOC) by the early 2030s, with Full Operational Capability (FOC) expected later in the decade as additional European partners join.

Strategic Context and Industrial Involvement

The announcement follows through on commitments made during the Franco-German Defence and Security Council meeting in Toulon on August 29, 2025, where both nations reaffirmed their intent to jointly strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy. The move comes amid growing concerns about emerging missile threats from adversarial states and the rapid proliferation of hypersonic technologies, which can outpace conventional radar and air defense systems.

Industrial participation will be key to JEWEL’s success. On the French side, institutions such as DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement), AID (Agence de l’Innovation de Défense), and ONERA (Office National d'Études et de Recherches Aérospatiales) are expected to lead satellite and sensor development. Germany will involve the Bundeswehr’s Space Command, DLR (German Aerospace Center), and leading defense companies such as Airbus Defence and Space and OHB Systems.

The collaboration could also extend to European industrial partners, including Thales Alenia Space, Hensoldt, and Indra, aligning with the broader framework of the European Defence Fund (EDF) to promote cross-border defense innovation.

Building the European Pillar of NATO

While JEWEL emphasizes European sovereignty, it is designed not as a rival but as a reinforcing layer to NATO’s missile defense. The system’s data architecture will be compatible with NATO’s Allied Ground Surveillance (AGS) and Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) command structures, ensuring interoperability with the U.S. and other allies.

“By launching JEWEL, the two nations are fully assuming their leading role in building a European early warning capability,” the French Ministry of the Armed Forces declared in its official statement. The ministry emphasized that the project represents a decisive leap forward for Europe’s defense autonomy, providing the continent with the ability to detect and respond to missile threats independently for the first time.

A Symbol of Strategic Maturity

The JEWEL initiative embodies more than just a technical undertaking—it is a strategic symbol of Europe’s growing determination to defend itself with homegrown technology. It underscores the Franco-German axis as the driving force of European defense integration, setting a precedent for future collaborations in space, intelligence, and missile defense.

By the early 2030s, once JEWEL’s first satellites are operational, Europe could finally take its place among the handful of global powers capable of independent missile early warning—joining the United States, Russia, and China in this elite domain.

In a geopolitical landscape increasingly defined by speed and precision, JEWEL represents Europe’s bid to ensure it will never again be caught unprepared.