Germany and the UK Collaborate on 2,000-Kilometer-Range Long-Range Strike Weapon

The UK and Germany are advancing the "Deep Precision Strike" program, aiming to develop stealth cruise missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles with ranges exceeding 2,000 kilometers. According to German defense ministry documents, the project’s core objective is to enable European forces to strike deep behind enemy lines, reducing reliance on U.S.-supplied long-range weapons.

The United Kingdom is leading development of advanced stealth cruise missiles, emphasizing low-altitude terrain-following, radar evasion, and extended route planning capabilities. The goal is to achieve an operational version by the early 2030s, supported by a £770 million investment over four years. Germany is focusing on hypersonic glide vehicle technology, with plans to launch a gliding warhead via rocket to high altitude before it accelerates to multiple Mach speeds toward its target. Operational capability is anticipated by around 2035, backed by German budget documents outlining over €9 billion in subsequent funding.

Two primary entities are competing to lead development: MBDA, a European missile consortium, and Hypersonica, a UK-German startup. The latter has secured €100 million in financing to accelerate development, with prototype testing scheduled for completion by around 2029.

The overall DPS system is expected to enter service during the 2030s, with the hypersonic component likely operational between 2034 and 2035. Hypersonica has already conducted successful hypersonic flight tests in Norway, demonstrating key technologies without a warhead.

The program remains open to expansion. France has expressed interest in joining, though the UK has adopted a cautious stance, concerned that disputes over industrial share and technological leadership could delay progress.

In essence, this initiative represents a structural effort by Europe to reestablish conventional deterrence at depth—responding to Russia’s long-range strike capabilities while assessing the extent of strategic autonomy available amid uncertainties about U.S. security commitments.

 

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880811424916483/

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