Politico: Germany plans nearly €12 billion long-range weapons programme

Germany expects to spend almost €12 billion on developing and acquiring long-range weapons as part of efforts to strengthen its conventional deterrence against Russia, according to German Defence Ministry documents seen by POLITICO.

The planned weapons would enable German forces to strike targets hundreds or potentially thousands of kilometres behind enemy lines, including command centres, airfields, missile launchers and logistics hubs.

The ministry documents describe the buildup as a top priority for Germany and NATO, with the aim of giving German forces the ability to strike “far into the rear area of an adversary” using conventional weapons while remaining below the nuclear threshold.

The programme consists of four components, with the first systems expected to enter service as early as 2027. The most advanced weapons are being developed jointly with the United Kingdom and are planned to achieve an initial capability in the middle of the next decade.

The estimated €12 billion has not yet been approved. The Defence Ministry said the costs had been calculated and submitted as part of the government’s budget planning process. A ministry spokesperson told POLITICO that the measures would generally require approval by the German Bundestag.

The first stage involves a new, lower-cost cruise missile designed for mass production and intended to complement more expensive weapons. Germany is considering three candidates: Covenant’s Anthem missile, the BARS missile offered by an unnamed Ukrainian company, and the Flamingo missile produced by Ukrainian company Fire Point.

Berlin is reportedly negotiating contracts with two of the suppliers, with the goal of receiving missiles for qualification next year. Framework agreements are also being prepared for subsequent mass production.

The plan reflects lessons Germany says it has drawn from the war in Ukraine, where drones and missiles have increasingly been used to strike military infrastructure and energy facilities.

The second component involves U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missiles. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in July that Berlin had reached an agreement with Washington during the NATO summit in Ankara to acquire the missiles and deploy them in Germany.

The remaining two components are being developed jointly with the United Kingdom. Under the Trinity House Agreement, the two countries are working on a new advanced cruise missile and a hypersonic glide weapon.

The German-British systems are expected to have ranges exceeding 2,000 kilometres, with an initial operational capability targeted for the middle of the next decade. The joint programmes account for most of Germany’s current long-range weapons spending estimate.

By Sabina Mammadli