Germany's Pursuit of Cruise Missile Systems
Germany's Ministry of Defense is exploring the acquisition of cost-effective, long-range cruise missiles from defense contractors in Ukraine and Israel. This shift follows President Donald Trump's cancellation of a planned deployment of U.S. Tomahawk missile units in Germany. Trump's decision reportedly stemmed from his anger over Chancellor Friedrich Merz's criticism of the Iran war. During the early weeks of the U.S. military campaign against Iran, roughly a quarter of the entire Tomahawk arsenal—around 850 missiles—was expended. This year, the U.S. Navy is set to receive only 110 new Tomahawk missiles.
Berlin's Multi-Track Defense Strategy
A formal request from German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth regarding the purchase of Typhon launch systems remains unanswered. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is unlikely to initiate the Typhon sale process before mid-2026. Germany is advancing a four-stage ground-based deep-strike plan that encompasses several parallel tracks:
- The first track involves procuring U.S. Typhon systems by 2029.
- The second track aims for rapid delivery of inexpensive cruise missiles in 2027.
- The third track focuses on developing a high-performance cruise missile jointly with the United Kingdom by 2032.
- The fourth track targets the creation of a hypersonic vehicle in partnership with the UK by 2035.
Germany's defense procurement agency has issued a request for proposals to Covenant, an Israeli-American company. Covenant's investors include Peter Thiel's Founders Fund and Andreessen Horowitz. Testing of the Anthem missile system is scheduled in Israel during the third week of June. Bundeswehr documents also reference two Ukraine-linked systems: the Bars jet-powered drone and the FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile. The FP-5 Flamingo, developed by Fire Point, boasts a range of 3,000 km and a one-ton warhead. German defense giant Diehl Defence is in talks with Fire Point about co-producing the Flamingo in Germany. Each Ukrainian missile costs approximately $500,000.
Ukraine and Germany have signed a defense agreement to combine their technologies. The defense ministers of both countries formalized the pact to integrate capabilities. As Iryna Terekh noted,
“In Ukraine, success was achieved precisely by eliminating bureaucratic red tape.”
This move signals Germany's intent to bolster its own defense capabilities amid rising global tensions, particularly in the context of ongoing international conflicts. Collaboration with Ukraine and Israel highlights the growing integration of defense technologies between nations, which could play a crucial role in future European security arrangements.
As Germany seeks to enhance its military capabilities, the recent agreement with Ukraine for joint drone production highlights the growing defense collaboration between the two nations. This partnership not only aims to boost Germany's defense industry but also aligns with its strategy to procure advanced military technology amid shifting geopolitical dynamics.