April 10 (Reuters) - U.S. private equity firm Warburg Pincus has launched an ‌investment platform focused on Europe's defence ‌and security sector, with MEAG, the asset manager of ​reinsurer Munich Re, joining as an early investor.

The initiative reflects what the firms described as sustained policy support and structural ‌drivers of defence ⁠spending in Europe, as governments move to strengthen military capabilities, resilience ⁠and strategic sovereignty.

* The platform will target private equity investments inEuropean defence, security ​and related ​strategic industries,Warburg Pincus ​said, as it ‌draws on its experience in aerospaceand defence and advice from senior military and industryadvisers * According to a Bloomberg report, the defence fund isexpected to be worth up ‌to 1.5 billion euros ($1.76 ​billion) * Warburg Pincus declined to ​comment on the ​amount * The investor has assembled ‌a senior advisory group ​offormer NATO ​and German military leaders and defence executives,including ex‑RENK chief Susanne Wiegand and former ​TKMS ‌headRolf Wirtz, it said

($1 = 0.8544 euros)

(Reporting by ​Maria Rugamer and Alexander Huebner, ​Editing by Linda Pasquini)