Germany’s $14 Billion Missile Plan Aims to Deter Russia

Germany expects it may need almost €12 billion, roughly $14 billion, to build a new arsenal of long-range weapons aimed at deterring Russia, according to defense ministry documents reported by Business Insider. The weapons would give German forces the ability to hit military targets hundreds or thousands of kilometers behind the front, including command centers, airfields, missile launchers, and supply hubs. Internal documents describe the effort as a top priority for Germany and NATO.

The buildup is structured in four parts, with the first weapons due as early as next year and the most advanced systems planned for the middle of the next decade. Internal ministry talking points put expected required funding at “almost €12 billion,” though the money has not yet been approved. Germany’s defense ministry declined to comment on the figure or individual programs, saying the measures are generally subject to Bundestag approval.

The fastest piece of the plan is a low-cost cruise missile Germany wants to start fielding in 2027. The documents say Germany is in contract talks with two suppliers and aims to receive missiles for qualification by the end of this year. Named candidates include Covenant’s Anthem, the BARS missile from an unnamed Ukrainian company, and Flamingo from Ukrainian company Fire Point; Germany is also preparing framework contracts for later mass production.

Another part of the plan centers on American Tomahawk cruise missiles, with Germany targeting an initial Typhon and Tomahawk capability by the end of the decade. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany had reached an agreement with the US government to acquire Tomahawks and station them in Germany, while also developing European systems. Germany and the UK are also working on a high-end cruise missile and a hypersonic glide weapon, with the hypersonic project accounting for most of the current estimate.

The plan marks a shift from waiting on a single new European missile toward a layered arsenal: cheaper missiles for mass production, American Tomahawks available sooner, and more advanced European weapons later. The buildup comes as German military leaders warn Russia could be able to attack NATO territory by the end of the decade. Berlin’s stated aim is to ensure that if deterrence fails, Russian forces would not be safe simply because they are far behind the front.