Britain, Germany to jointly develop long-range strike weapon

Britain and Germany have announced a major step forward in defence cooperation with plans to jointly develop a new "deep precision strike" weapon capable of hitting targets over 2,000 kilometres (1,242 miles) away, the British government revealed on May 15.

The project marks a significant deepening of military ties between Europe’s two largest economies and builds upon a bilateral defence pact signed last year. That agreement underscored the urgency of strengthening Europe’s military posture amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The announcement comes at a critical geopolitical juncture, as U.S. President Donald Trump has returned to office and renewed calls for European countries to assume greater responsibility for their own security. His stance has accelerated a European push to bolster domestic defence industries and reduce reliance on the United States.

British Defence Minister John Healey and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius are expected to unveil the new long-range strike initiative during a joint meeting in Berlin.

“In a more dangerous world, NATO and European allies stand united,” Healey said in a statement.
“This partnership is helping us make defence an engine for growth – creating jobs, boosting skills, and driving investment across the UK and Germany.”

While specific details regarding the development timeline and project budget remain undisclosed, the joint initiative signals a broader commitment to collaborative defence manufacturing and capability-building.

In addition to the long-range strike system, the two ministers are also set to discuss joint procurement of torpedoes for maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. The meeting is expected to include the announcement of a German order for British-made military bridges, reinforcing the growing industrial ties between the two NATO allies.

By Vugar Khalilov