The United Kingdom and Germany announced the joint development of a next-generation long-range precision missile. The future system, whose name and specifications remain classified, is designed to outperform current Western cruise missiles such as the Storm Shadow/SCALP and the Taurus KEPD-350, and forms the spearhead of a wider European vision: the European Long Strike Approach (ELSA).
This missile will be a cornerstone of Europe’s sovereign deep-strike capabilities, with a stated range of over 2,000 kilometers. Though details remain undisclosed, experts speculate it may incorporate hypersonic, stealth, or even dual-capability platforms—including ballistic vectors—designed to hit strategic targets deep within hostile territory.
The announcement by UK Defence Secretary John Healey and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius marks the first major implementation of the Trinity House Agreement, signed in October 2024. That accord laid the foundation for closer bilateral defense collaboration amid rising global instability, increasing cyber threats, and the return of great-power competition.
“Today is a signal to allies and adversaries alike,” said Healey at the Berlin press conference. “We are not just upgrading a weapon system—we’re redefining Europe’s ability to act fast, strike deep, and protect its people without waiting for permission.”
Pistorius echoed the sentiment, stressing that “Germany and the UK are taking the lead in building a European deterrent capacity that is autonomous, precise, and strategically credible.”
The joint UK-German effort fits into a broader European defense initiative: ELSA (European Long Strike Approach). Initially spearheaded by France, Germany, Italy, and Poland—and now joined by the UK and Sweden—ELSA aims to fill a long-standing capability gap in European security: sovereign deep-strike capacity that can operate independently of U.S. support or NATO frameworks.
The initiative is organized into thematic “clusters,” allowing member states to focus on areas aligned with their operational priorities. Some may develop cruise or ballistic missiles; others may invest in targeting systems, long-range sensors, or doctrines for multi-domain operations.
According to defense officials, this decentralized model increases agility and fosters innovation. “We’re no longer trying to build a one-size-fits-all weapon,” said a UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson. “Each nation contributes its strengths. The UK-Germany missile is one piece of a broader, interconnected web of strike capabilities.”
At the heart of the program lies the ambition to build a Deep Precision Strike (DPS) capability that goes far beyond current benchmarks. The missile will reportedly exceed 2,000 km in range, potentially double that of existing Western cruise missiles, and will include guidance systems able to navigate dense anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) zones.
For the UK, this missile represents more than military hardware—it’s a vital piece of homeland defense. “This capability is about protecting British soil from future threats, deterring aggression on the continent, and doing so with speed and accuracy,” said Healey.
For Germany, the system offers strategic depth and a step toward European military independence. Pistorius emphasized that “the ability to hit critical nodes deep behind enemy lines—airfields, command centers, missile batteries—is what will keep Europe safe in the next decade.”
The Berlin agreement outlines a series of practical next steps. In the short term, UK and German defense forces will conduct a comparative analysis to define shared capability requirements and identify gaps in existing inventories. Joint military specifications will then be drafted, creating a blueprint for what the missile system must achieve in range, survivability, target set, and operational flexibility.
This assessment phase will lead into industrial planning. UK and German defense companies are expected to collaborate on subsystems, propulsion technologies, and guidance software. Early signals suggest that BAE Systems, MBDA, Rheinmetall, and Diehl Defence may all play roles in various capacities.
Medium-term objectives include full co-development of the missile, joint procurement programs, and aligned deployment doctrines. A shared training pipeline and integration with NATO systems are also under discussion, particularly in light of existing multilateral efforts like the European Sky Shield Initiative, NATO’s High Visibility Projects, and the UK’s DIAMOND Initiative for next-gen weapons.
The missile project is just one element of a broader tightening of UK-Germany defense ties. The joint communiqué released after the Berlin summit highlighted cooperation in several other critical domains:
Germany announced its intent to purchase British-made Sting Ray lightweight torpedoes for its fleet of P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, based in Scotland. This acquisition increases the compatibility of anti-submarine operations across NATO’s northern maritime zone.
In turn, the UK will base Royal Air Force aircraft at a German naval air station, signaling deepening strategic trust. These deployments aim to enhance joint monitoring and rapid response across the North Sea and Atlantic corridors, where Russian submarine activity and hybrid threats are rising.
On land, both countries plan to coordinate their forward-deployed forces in Eastern Europe, with a focus on Ukraine, Moldova, and the Baltic states. British and German units are already involved in joint support coalitions for armored vehicles and drone technologies destined for Ukrainian forces.
Industrial cooperation is also increasing. Rheinmetall’s forthcoming cannon barrel manufacturing facility in the UK—its first on British soil—is seen as a template for shared defense manufacturing that combines UK innovation with German engineering precision.
While officials were careful not to link the missile directly to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the implications are clear. Both Germany and the UK remain top contributors of military aid to Ukraine, and their long-term support commitments suggest that any future system designed for deep-strike might eventually inform NATO’s posture on the Eastern front.
“The 2,000-kilometer range is no coincidence,” said a senior NATO analyst. “That puts targets in central Russia well within reach. Even if the missile isn’t used in this war, it changes the calculus for the next one.”
The timing of the announcement was no accident. On May 16, 2025, just one day after the Berlin summit, both ministers will attend the E5 Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Rome—a gathering of the five leading European military powers: the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Poland.
The missile program is expected to be discussed in detail, as it represents a template for future cooperation under the ELSA umbrella. The E5 grouping, once informal, is now being recognized as a strategic engine within European defense policy.
Ultimately, the missile’s significance is as political as it is military. By committing to this program, Germany and the UK are sending a clear message: Europe will no longer rely exclusively on U.S. defense guarantees, especially in the domain of strategic deterrence.
This is not a break from NATO, but rather a signal that Europe is maturing as a defense actor. With the U.S. increasingly focused on the Indo-Pacific and facing unpredictable election cycles, European capitals are realizing that sovereign strike capability is essential for stability and leverage.
“This missile is about independence,” said one German official. “Not isolation, but resilience. The ability to deter, to act, and to do so with credibility.”
The coming months will determine how ambitious the program becomes. Key questions remain unanswered:
- Will France integrate its own long-range missile programs into this effort?
- How will the system be governed—through a European command or by national authorities?
- Will the missile remain conventional-only, or eventually acquire a dual-use (nuclear/conventional) doctrine?
What’s clear is this: the UK and Germany have fired the starting gun on a European defense transformation. Whether this missile flies in five years or ten, the political and strategic trajectory it sets in motion may reshape the continent’s security architecture.
