Germany, France, Italy, and Poland have agreed to jointly develop ground-launched cruise missiles.
The defense ministers of the four nations signed a declaration of intent at the NATO summit in Washington, marking a crucial move to address gaps in Europe’s arsenal revealed by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The proposed Deep Precision Strike System (DPSS) will have a range of up to 2,000 kilometers, potentially capable of reaching Moscow. This collaborative initiative follows recent announcements by the nations to work on advanced weapon systems together.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasized the importance of such capabilities: “Germany needs to have its own deterrent to protect itself, and precision weapons are necessary for this purpose. This decision has been long prepared and is no surprise to those engaged in security and peace policy.”
The idea for enhancing the Bundeswehr’s arsenal with long-range cruise missiles is not entirely new. The German government included plans for such “stand-off weapons” in its National Security Strategy, though this detail largely went unnoticed by the public. Behind the scenes, however, there has been significant discussion about the need for Germany to strengthen its capabilities in this area.
Strategic imbalances have become more apparent in recent years, with Russia expanding its arsenal of conventional medium and long-range weapons, withdrawing from arms control treaties, and deploying these systems, including in the Kaliningrad enclave. From Kaliningrad, Moscow could potentially target almost any location in Europe, raising concerns in Berlin and other EU capitals.
The new medium-range missile program aligns with the traditional concept of deterrence. The capability for a retaliatory strike by the Bundeswehr in response to a Russian attack is intended to deter potential aggressors from considering such actions. This resolve was reiterated during recent NATO summits, where member states committed to rapidly enhancing their long-range weaponry.
At present, the plans for the joint cruise missile program are in the early stages. Senior military officials at the NATO summit indicated that the objective is to develop a land-based cruise missile with a minimum range of 2,000 kilometers, potentially more. Such systems could target deep within Russian territory. With adequate funding, the development could be completed within five to seven years.
In the interim, American Tomahawk missiles stationed in Germany will serve as a deterrent to Russia. These missiles are scheduled to arrive in Germany by 2026. Scholz noted that their deployment aligns with the decisions already made by NATO allies.