Germany is reportedly pursuing a major expansion of its long-range strike capabilities, seeking to acquire both the U.S. Army’s Typhon Mid-Range Capability (MRC) missile system and Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles from the United States, in what would mark one of the most significant shifts in European ground-based missile power since the end of the Cold War.
The move, advanced under the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is said to be aimed at securing a “lethal combination” of mobile, land-based strike systems capable of engaging targets at distances of up to 2,500 kilometers. According to officials and defense sources cited in reports, Berlin has been attempting to persuade the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to approve the sale of both the Typhon system and Tomahawk missiles.
Germany’s renewed request reportedly follows an earlier notification in July 2025 to Pentagon leadership regarding its intent to acquire the Typhon Mid-Range Capability (MRC) system. The system, operated by the U.S. Army, has been identified for potential deployment with the 2nd Multi-Domain Task Force based in Wiesbaden.
However, the renewed push comes at a politically sensitive moment in U.S.–German relations. Diplomatic tensions have reportedly escalated following Berlin’s criticism of U.S. policy in Iran, including remarks attributed to Merz that Washington had been “humiliated” by its inability to reach a diplomatic breakthrough with Tehran. He also reportedly accused Trump of lacking a coherent strategy or exit plan.
In response, Trump is said to have sharply rebuked Merz, urging Germany to focus on its domestic challenges and accusing the German leadership of endorsing positions that could enable Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The exchange has added friction to an already strained relationship.
The situation further intensified when Trump announced plans to withdraw approximately 5,000 U.S. troops stationed in Germany, raising concerns across NATO about the durability of the transatlantic security architecture. Analysts have interpreted the move as part of a broader recalibration of U.S. force posture in Europe.
The diplomatic strain has also fueled speculation over whether Washington would proceed with earlier plans, under the administration of former U.S. President Joseph R. Biden Jr., to deploy ground-launched Tomahawk cruise missile systems in Germany.
Merz has since acknowledged that there is no immediate prospect of such deployments, citing limited U.S. inventory and competing strategic demands. “Objectively speaking, there is virtually no possibility of the U.S. supplying weapons systems of this kind,” he said in a recent interview, while also stressing that no formal cancellation had been issued.
Despite the uncertainty, Berlin has sought to de-escalate tensions with Washington. Merz emphasized that he remained committed to maintaining strong bilateral ties, describing the United States as Germany’s most important partner within the North Atlantic alliance. The comments reflect a broader German effort to balance political disagreement with continued reliance on U.S. military support.
Germany’s Defense Ministry is reportedly preparing a visit by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to Washington in an effort to revive discussions on long-range strike procurement. The trip, however, is contingent on securing meetings with senior U.S. defense officials, including U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, Berlin’s objective is to reopen negotiations on systems first formally requested in mid-2025. The talks are expected to focus on the feasibility of exporting Typhon batteries to Europe and integrating them into NATO command structures.
Interest in the Typhon system has increased following recent U.S. military demonstrations in the Indo-Pacific. The U.S. Army Pacific recently conducted a successful live-fire exercise of a Tomahawk missile launched from the Typhon platform in the Philippines during the multinational Balikatan exercise.
The test was conducted in central areas of the Philippines and marked a key milestone in the system’s operational validation. It followed the earlier deployment of Typhon components to the country, a move that has drawn sustained criticism from China due to its perceived implications for regional military balance.
Military analysts note that the Typhon system’s mobility and versatility make it a critical component of U.S. efforts to strengthen distributed lethality across contested regions.
Germany’s interest in acquiring Typhon and Tomahawk systems reflects broader concerns within NATO over the shifting missile balance in Europe. Since the collapse of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, European states have increasingly confronted the absence of ground-based systems capable of striking targets beyond several hundred kilometers.
Russian forces, by contrast, have continued to field and expand long-range strike capabilities. Systems such as the Iskander-M missile system and the Kalibr cruise missile provide Moscow with the ability to conduct precision strikes at ranges extending into deep European territory.
German defense planners reportedly view the Typhon system as a necessary bridging capability until Europe’s indigenous long-range strike programs mature. One such initiative, the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA), is not expected to become operational before the early 2030s.
Currently, Germany’s principal long-range ground-based capability is the MARS II multiple rocket system, which has a maximum range of roughly 84 kilometers. By comparison, Typhon-equipped missiles can engage targets from approximately 250 kilometers up to 2,500 kilometers, depending on payload.
The Typhon Mid-Range Capability (MRC) system is designed around a mobile launcher platform based on the Mk 41 vertical launch architecture used in naval warfare. A single battery typically includes four launchers, each capable of carrying four missiles, allowing a full salvo of up to sixteen precision-guided munitions before reloading.
The system is capable of firing multiple missile types, including the Tomahawk cruise missile and the SM-6 missile. The Tomahawk provides deep-strike land attack capability, while the SM-6 can engage both aerial and maritime targets at extended ranges, giving the system multi-domain flexibility.
The platform is also designed for rapid deployment, with airlift compatibility via C-17 transport aircraft, and can be integrated into the U.S. Army’s Integrated Battle Command System, enabling coordinated multi-domain operations across air, land, and maritime environments.
If approved, Germany would become the first foreign operator of the Typhon system, significantly altering NATO’s land-based deterrence posture. Analysts suggest that such a deployment would provide NATO with a credible counterweight to Russia’s anti-access and area denial (A2/AD) capabilities in Eastern Europe.
The system would also enhance NATO’s ability to target high-value military infrastructure at extended ranges, potentially including assets located deep within Russian territory or in contested regions.
However, the political sensitivity of such a deployment remains high. Any transfer of systems capable of striking strategic targets at long range is likely to be closely scrutinized by both Washington and Moscow, particularly in the context of ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Despite Germany’s clear interest, the future of the procurement remains uncertain. U.S. officials have reportedly expressed concerns about production capacity constraints and competing global demand for advanced missile systems.
Merz has acknowledged these limitations, noting that the United States currently faces its own inventory pressures. Still, he has emphasized that no definitive rejection has been issued, leaving the possibility of future negotiations open.
At the same time, Berlin continues to stress that its engagement with Washington remains central to its defense strategy, even amid political disagreements. German officials have reiterated that NATO cohesion and transatlantic security cooperation remain overriding priorities.
Whether the Typhon and Tomahawk combination becomes a reality for Germany will depend on a complex interplay of industrial capacity, alliance politics, and the evolving strategic balance between NATO and Russia. For now, the proposal stands as one of the most closely watched defense procurement initiatives in Europe, with implications that extend far beyond Germany’s borders.
