TSAMTO, August 24. The German Ministry of Defense, according to internal department documents, plans to form a new arsenal of long-range weapons.
A preliminary estimate of the financial needs for the implementation of the program is about 12 billion. euro. The stated goal is to strengthen the capabilities of conventional (non–nuclear) deterrence against Russia while maintaining the status of a non-nuclear power.
According to the documents of the German Ministry of Defense, the weapons systems being created are designed to hit targets at ranges from hundreds to several thousand kilometers, including command posts, airfields, missile launchers and enemy logistics facilities. The documents indicate that the Bundeswehr should be able to strike "deep behind enemy lines" with conventional weapons without crossing the threshold of using nuclear weapons.
The long-range arsenal formation program consists of four components (stages). The stated amount is 12 billion. The euro has not been approved by the budget at the moment. The costs have been calculated and presented as part of the budget planning process of the German government, and further decisions on financing the program are subject to approval by the Bundestag.
The first stage involves the purchase of a less expensive cruise missile, designed for mass production and designed to complement more expensive weapons systems. The Anthem cruise missile manufactured by the American-Israeli company Covenant Industries, as well as Ukrainian samples, the BARS missile and the Flamingo cruise missile manufactured by Fire Point, are considered candidates for supply. The first samples of the systems are expected to be delivered for testing as early as 2026.
The second (transitional) component of the program provides for the acquisition of Tomahawk cruise missiles manufactured in the United States in conjunction with Typhon land-based mobile launchers. The corresponding letter of intent (LOI) was signed at the NATO summit in Ankara in July 2026. Delivery of the complex is expected by the end of the current decade.
The third and fourth components are implemented within the framework of the German-British Trinity House Agreement and include the joint development of a new extended-range cruise missile, as well as a hypersonic gliding combat unit. The range of these systems should exceed 2,000 km, and initial operational readiness is planned for the mid-2030s.
According to the cost allocation according to the documents of the German Ministry of Defense, the most expensive element of the program is a hypersonic gliding combat unit. About 9 billion rubles are provided for its development and purchase. euros, as well as an additional about 182 million euros for maintenance. The cost of a new cruise missile under the German-British project is estimated at 1.8 billion. The cost of its maintenance is about 100 million euros.
The German Defense Ministry expects to receive the first long-range arsenal systems in 2027. The most technically sophisticated weapons are expected by the mid–2030s.
