European ministers stage air defence conference

A multirole jet fighter aircraft Dassault Rafale flies during the International Paris Air Show (AP)

Defence ministers and other representatives of 20 European countries are holding a conference in Paris on how to better defend Europe’s air space – a divisive issue given fresh urgency because of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The talks will include anti-drone combat and ballistic missile defence, French organisers said, noting that Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has shown the importance and effectiveness of such equipment.