UK strengthens NATO security with next-gen European missile projects

The United Kingdom will spend more than £400 million in the current financial year on hypersonic and long-range weapons, including collaborative programs with France, Germany, and Italy, as London seeks to enhance NATO deterrence and bolster European security.

The UK is intensifying cooperation with key European allies to develop next-generation precision and hypersonic weapons. Central to these efforts is the Stratus joint missile program with France and Italy, which aims to produce a stealth successor to the Storm Shadow missile. Stratus, encompassing both stealth and high-speed missile variants, currently sustains over 1,300 high-skilled jobs in the UK. The new missiles are designed to neutralize high-value targets, destroy enemy ships, and suppress hostile air defences, Caliiber.Az reports, citing UK Defence Ministry.

Meanwhile, the UK’s long-range weapon program with Germany is advancing rapidly, with a new joint study phase soon to commence. This follows the landmark Trinity House Agreement, signed early in 2024, and is accelerating the development of both future stealth and hypersonic systems. The resulting Deep Precision Strike system is projected to have a range exceeding 2,000 km and will be among the most advanced weapons ever developed by the UK, expected to enter service in the 2030s.

The government has pledged the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, aiming to reach 2.6% of GDP by 2027, ensuring the UK and its allies remain secure.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP stated:

"To meet this new era of rising threats, we need hard power, strong alliances, and sure diplomacy. We can see from the war in Ukraine the decisive impact of long-range precision weapons, so the UK is stepping up, investing more than £400 million for long-range and hypersonic weapons this year. Alongside Germany, France, and Italy, we will deliver cutting-edge systems that will keep the UK and NATO safe, boost deterrence, and build a new deal for European security."

Investment in hypersonic weapons this year will also fund critical technology development, ground and flight testing, and academic programs, including postgraduate training.

The Defence Secretary is expected to discuss these projects and deepen industrial cooperation during bilateral meetings at the Munich Security Conference, amid continuing Russian aggression in Ukraine. UK Defence Intelligence recently reported that Russia conducted a major multi-axis strike using long-range bombers, hypersonic missiles, over 60 ballistic and cruise missiles, and 450 one-way attack drones.

Healey’s discussions at Munich will focus on boosting support for Ukraine, defending Europe against Russian threats, and strengthening industrial partnerships with key allies.

By Vafa Guliyeva