Germany drafts 12 billion euro long-range missile plan to deter Russia

Long-range strike proposal

Internal documents from the German Ministry of Defense show plans to allocate nearly 12 billion euros for a long-range strike arsenal. The projected capabilities include low-cost cruise missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles, ballistic weapons, drones, and hypersonic systems. These weapons would allow the German armed forces to strike targets situated hundreds or thousands of kilometers behind an enemy frontline. Potential targets listed in defense planning include military airfields, command centers, missile launchers, and supply depots. Defense planning documents describe the acquisition effort as a top priority for Germany and NATO to build conventional deterrence capabilities against Russia.

Four-tier procurement structure

The defense ministry structured the acquisition program into four distinct components to balance immediate deployment needs with long-term technological development. The fastest component aims to introduce low-cost cruise missiles into active service starting in 2027. In June 2026, defense officials evaluated missile systems manufactured by the American-Israeli startup Covenant Industries alongside options from companies linked to Ukraine, seeking weapons that can be purchased in volume and deployed rapidly. For longer distances, the plan includes Tomahawk cruise missiles, which possess an operational range exceeding 1,500 kilometers. The most sophisticated systems in the program are being developed jointly with the United Kingdom, with deployment scheduled for the middle of the 2030s. The program gained urgency after the United States canceled its planned deployment of a Tomahawk missile regiment to Germany, leaving European NATO members without an equivalent capability.

Operational doctrine and Ukrainian parallels

The overarching doctrine outlined in the planning documents is designed to strike deep into an opponent's rear areas while maintaining conventional strike options strictly below the nuclear threshold. German military planners drew on tactics demonstrated by Ukrainian forces, which have conducted strikes against military bases, logistics hubs, and infrastructure deep inside Russian territory. By establishing an independent arsenal of conventional precision strike weapons, Berlin aims to deter adversarial military moves without relying entirely on external allied deployments. Internal planning documents emphasize that maintaining deep-strike capabilities provides conventional options during potential high-intensity conflicts.

Parliamentary review and domestic security

The financial estimates were submitted into the federal government budget drafting process, though parliament has not yet approved the funds. The Ministry of Defense declined to provide official figures for individual projects before legislative review. A ministry spokesperson confirmed the constitutional process governing the initiative.

The measures you refer to are, in general, subject to Bundestag approval.

The missile plan coincides with domestic security concerns following two incidents within two weeks. On Tuesday, 4 August 2026, authorities found an explosives-laden drone at Leipzig airport, and on Friday, 21 August 2026, police discovered a hidden weapons cache near Berlin that investigators suspect may be tied to Russian intelligence. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt addressed the potential involvement of foreign state actors in the arms cache discovery.

Should we also rule out the involvement of foreign powers in this affair? No.