Despite the high price tag, air-launched cruise missiles have become a luxury few European nations can live without. While nations with a history of expeditionary warfare such as France, Germany and the U.K. began investing in these capabilities long ago, the recent crisis in Ukraine and the rearming of Russia has stirred other countries to consider how to deal with the new generation of long-range ground-based air defense systems. Poland is on the perceived front line of these new threats. Prompted by Russia's belligerence, the uneasy neighbor has pushed for an urgent purchase of cruise missiles to equip its F-16 Fighting Falcons.
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