The German government plans to spend nearly 12 billion euros on a new long-range weapons program to deter russia. As part of this project, Berlin is negotiating with Ukrainian companies to supply low-cost cruise missiles. This was reported by Politico, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The development of the new arsenal involves creating strike weapons capable of hitting targets hundreds or thousands of kilometers behind enemy lines. This includes destroying command centers, airfields, missile launchers, and supply hubs, which is a priority for both the country’s defense policy and its commitments within NATO.
Armament buildup strategy
The program implementation plan is divided into several stages, with the first weapon systems expected to enter service as early as next year. Budget funding for the initiative is still under government review, but the relevant ministry has already submitted calculations for consideration.
The program considers three models of low-cost cruise missiles, including products from Covenant Industries and Ukrainian companies Fire Point and one unnamed developer. Berlin intends to sign framework contracts to ensure mass production of the most effective systems for use alongside more expensive alternatives.
Partnership with the US and UK
A separate track involves an agreement with the US government to acquire Tomahawk missiles for deployment in Germany. Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that this would close a strategic gap in defense while domestic development of European systems continues.
The final part of the program is being carried out jointly with British experts as part of the Trinity House Agreement. It provides for the development of high-end cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons capable of reaching targets at a distance of over 2,000 kilometers by the middle of the next decade.
Illustrative photo: Lupus in Saxonia / CC BY-SA 4.0
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