BERLIN — May 10, 2026 : Germany is renewing efforts to acquire American-made Tomahawk cruise missiles and Typhon ground launch systems following the Pentagon’s decision to cancel plans for the deployment of a US long-range missile battalion to German territory.
The move reflects growing concern within Berlin over NATO’s long-range conventional strike capabilities in Europe after recent changes in the United States military posture under the current administration.
Germany Seeks Long-Range Strike Capability
The German government formally submitted a request to Washington in July 2025 for the purchase of the Typhon Mid-Range Capability system and up to approximately 400 Tomahawk Block Vb cruise missiles. The proposed deal is estimated to exceed €1 billion for the missiles, in addition to around €220 million for launcher systems and associated equipment.
The request has remained under review for nearly ten months, with the United States yet to provide an official response.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is planning a visit to Washington to advance negotiations on the procurement effort. The trip, however, depends on securing a meeting with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth amid growing diplomatic tensions between Washington and Berlin.
Relations between US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have reportedly deteriorated following Merz’s criticism of recent US military operations in Iran. Diplomatic sources indicate Berlin may be prepared to provide additional financial commitments in an effort to accelerate approval of the deal.
Pentagon Cancels Planned Missile Deployment
Germany’s renewed procurement push follows the Pentagon’s recent decision to abandon plans for the deployment of a US Army Multi-Domain Task Force battalion to Germany beginning in fiscal year 2026.
The battalion was expected to operate Typhon launch systems capable of firing Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and SM-6 multi-role missiles. The deployment had originally been approved under former President Joe Biden as part of NATO’s broader deterrence strategy against Russia.
The planned stationing of the systems was intended to serve as a temporary bridging measure until European-developed long-range strike capabilities become operational.
The Pentagon has also ordered the withdrawal of approximately 5,000 US troops from Germany over the next six to twelve months as part of a broader restructuring of American military deployments in Europe.
German officials have warned that the cancellation of the deployment removes an important deep-precision strike component from NATO’s regional deterrence posture.
Typhon System and Missile Capabilities
The Typhon system, developed by Lockheed Martin for the US Army, is a mobile ground-launched missile platform using a modified Mk 41 Vertical Launch System mounted on trailer-based launchers.
The system is capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles with ranges estimated between 2,000 and 2,500 kilometers, as well as SM-6 missiles with ranges of approximately 500 kilometers.
German defense officials view the system as an interim solution to address gaps in the Bundeswehr’s long-range strike capabilities while European programs continue development.
The original US deployment announcement was made during the 2024 NATO summit in Washington and was presented as a response to Russia’s missile deployments in the Kaliningrad exclave, which placed several European capitals within range of Russian systems.
Supply Constraints and European Alternatives
Even if diplomatic negotiations succeed, Germany’s procurement effort faces potential delays due to limited US missile inventories and production constraints.
During the recent four-week conflict involving Iran, the United States military reportedly expended approximately 850 Tomahawk missiles, increasing pressure on existing stockpiles.
Earlier this year, the Pentagon signed a seven-year production agreement with Raytheon to expand Tomahawk manufacturing capacity. Despite those efforts, allied nations including Japan and the Netherlands are already experiencing delays in receiving previously ordered missiles.
European governments are also pursuing indigenous long-range strike capabilities, although no currently available European system matches the range of the Tomahawk missile.
Existing European air-launched systems, including the Scalp/Storm Shadow and Taurus missiles, have operational ranges of approximately 300 to 500 kilometers, significantly below the Tomahawk’s range capability.
Germany is simultaneously supporting the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA), a multinational initiative aimed at developing new deep-precision strike systems for Europe. However, current projections indicate those systems are unlikely to become operational before 2030.
The Financial Times first reported on Germany’s renewed procurement effort on May 10, 2026, citing sources familiar with Berlin’s defense planning discussions.
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