BERLIN — Germany has finalized an agreement with the United States to purchase Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles and Typhon ground-based launchers, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Thursday, marking a significant step in strengthening the country's long-range defense capabilities.
Merz said the agreement was concluded with the U.S. government during bilateral meetings held on the sidelines of this week's NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. Addressing lawmakers in the Bundestag, he said the discussions with U.S. officials on Tuesday and Wednesday had exceeded his expectations.
"We are closing a critical strategic gap in our defence, while simultaneously working to develop our own European systems and station them in Europe," Merz told lawmakers.
Germany to Station Tomahawk Missiles on Its Own Territory
Under the agreement, Germany will station the Tomahawk missile systems on German territory. The acquisition marks a change in Germany's defense approach, shifting from relying on planned U.S. deployments toward building its own long-range strike capability.
The procurement follows changes to an earlier plan announced in 2024 under which the United States intended to temporarily deploy a battalion equipped with Tomahawk missiles in Germany beginning in 2026. That plan was largely abandoned after U.S. President Donald Trump announced in May that the United States would reduce its military presence in Germany.
Instead of relying on a U.S.-operated deployment, Germany has now chosen to purchase the systems directly.
According to German government sources, Washington signed a letter of intent on Tuesday committing to approve Germany's procurement of the Tomahawk missiles and Typhon launchers in August. The number of missiles and launchers to be acquired has not been disclosed because the information is classified.
Typhon Launchers Provide Ground-Based Capability
The Tomahawk missiles will be paired with the Typhon launcher system, a mobile ground-based platform capable of launching both Tomahawk cruise missiles and SM-6 missiles.
The acquisition will provide Germany with a ground-based long-range strike capability that currently does not exist elsewhere in Europe.
While the United Kingdom operates Tomahawk missiles launched from submarines and France fields sea-based long-range cruise missiles while developing a ground-based version, no European country currently operates a comparable ground-based Tomahawk system.
Longer Range Than Germany's Taurus Missile
Germany currently manufactures the Taurus cruise missile, which has an operational range of approximately 500 kilometers (311 miles).
The U.S.-made Tomahawk has a range of up to 2,500 kilometers, providing Germany with a strike capability roughly three to five times greater than that of the Taurus.
German officials consider the Tomahawk and Typhon combination an interim capability while Europe develops its own next-generation long-range weapons.
Part of Broader European Defense Plans
Merz said Germany has significantly increased defense spending since the start of the war in Ukraine, with €124 billion allocated for defense in 2026.
At the same time, Germany continues to invest in developing an independent European long-range strike capability. Berlin is working with the United Kingdom and other partners through the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA) initiative, which aims to develop a European cruise missile with a range exceeding 2,000 kilometers.
The planned U.S. purchase is expected to provide Germany with an immediate long-range strike capability while European partners continue development of indigenous systems.
The agreement also aligns with the U.S. administration's policy of encouraging European NATO members to strengthen their own defense capabilities, including through the purchase of American military equipment. The final U.S. approval for the sale is expected in August, while details of the procurement remain classified.
Source: Reuters
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