The German government expects to spend almost 12 billion euros on a new arsenal of long-range weapons aimed at deterring Russia, according to internal defense ministry documents seen by Politico.
The weapons would give German forces the ability to strike targets hundreds or even thousands of kilometers behind enemy lines, including command centers, airfields, missile launchers and supply hubs. Internal documents call the effort a top priority for both Germany and NATO as European countries rearm against what they see as a rising Russian threat.
Four-Part Plan With Weapons Due by 2027
The program has four components. The fastest track involves a new low-cost cruise missile that Germany wants to start fielding in 2027. Three candidates are under consideration: the Anthem missile from U.S.-Israeli startup Covenant Industries, the BARS missile from a Ukrainian-linked company, and the Flamingo from Ukrainian firm Fire Point. Berlin is in contract talks with two suppliers and aims to receive missiles for qualification testing next year.
The second component involves acquiring American Tomahawk cruise missiles. Chancellor Friedrich Merz told the Bundestag in early July that Germany had reached an agreement with Washington during the NATO summit in Ankara to deploy Typhon launchers armed with Tomahawks in Germany, with initial capability targeted by the end of the decade.
Hypersonic Weapons Jointly With Britain
The final two parts are being developed jointly with the United Kingdom under the Trinity House Agreement. Germany and Britain are working on a new high-end cruise missile and a hypersonic glide weapon, with the goal of initial capability by the mid-2030s. Internal documents put nearly 9 billion euros toward development and procurement of the main systems, plus 1.8 billion euros for cruise missile development and 279 million euros for maintenance.
The ministry described the low-cost missile as a cost-efficient and mass-producible weapon designed to overwhelm enemy air defenses through mass attacks. The documents say the goal is to allow German forces to strike far into the rear area of an adversary and maintain the ability to respond with conventional weapons below the nuclear threshold.
Germany’s defense ministry declined to comment on the specific figures, saying the measures are generally subject to the approval of the German Bundestag. The money has not yet been approved but has been submitted as part of the government’s budget planning process.
The program marks a major shift for Germany, which has historically avoided investing in long-range strike capabilities. Berlin says it has drawn the lesson from the war in Ukraine that hitting important targets far behind enemy lines has become indispensable for credible deterrence.
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