The German government expects it will need almost 12 billion euros to build a new arsenal of long-range weapons aimed at deterring Russia, according to internal defense ministry documents obtained by Politico. The weapons would give German forces the ability to hit targets hundreds or even thousands of kilometers behind the front – potentially including command centers, airfields, missile launchers and supply hubs. Internal documents call the effort a top priority for both Germany and NATO.
Four-Part Plan With Missiles Coming as Soon as 2027
The plan has four components. The fastest 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 an unnamed Ukrainian company, and the Flamingo from Ukrainian firm Fire Point. Germany is in contract talks with two of those suppliers, with missiles for qualification testing expected by next year.
The documents describe the low-cost missile as a cost-efficient and mass-producible weapon designed to overwhelm enemy air defenses through sheer numbers – a lesson drawn from the war in Ukraine, where Kyiv has increasingly used drones and missiles to strike Russian military infrastructure and refineries.
Tomahawks and Future Hypersonic Systems
Chancellor Friedrich Merz told the Bundestag in July that Germany had reached an agreement with the United States during the NATO summit in Ankara to acquire American Tomahawk cruise missiles and deploy them in Germany. The internal target is to have an initial capability of U.S. Typhon launchers armed with Tomahawks by the end of the decade, giving Berlin a proven long-range weapon while European alternatives are developed.
The most ambitious component involves developing hypersonic weapons with a range of over 2,000 kilometers, built jointly with the United Kingdom and planned for the middle of the next decade. The goal is to close a strategic gap and allow Germany to launch conventional precision strikes without escalating to the nuclear level.
Budget Breakdown and Political Hurdles
Internal documents allocate nearly 9 billion euros toward development and procurement of the primary weapons, plus 182 million for maintenance. Another 1.8 billion is earmarked for cruise missile development and procurement, with 97 million for upkeep. Separate ministry talking points put the total at almost 12 billion euros.
The money has not yet been approved. The defense ministry said the costs have been estimated and submitted as part of the government budget planning process, noting the measures are subject to Bundestag approval. The ministry declined to comment on individual programs.
For Germany, the missile plan marks a major shift. Instead of waiting for one new European missile, Berlin wants several types of weapons: cheaper missiles produced in large numbers, American Tomahawks available sooner, and more advanced European weapons later. The program comes as European countries rearm in response to what they see as a rising threat from Russia, with Germany defense budget expected to reach 117 billion euros in 2026 – far exceeding France 68.5 billion and the UK 74 billion pounds.
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