UK and Germany to Jointly Develop New Strike Weapon
Britain and Germany are going to jointly develop a new 'deep precision strike' weapon with a range of more than 1,200 miles, London said on Thursday.
The move follows a commitment the countries made to develop new weapons in a bilateral defense pact known as the Trinity House Agreement, signed last October.
The weapons project will be jointly announced by British Defense Secretary John Healey and his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, in Berlin later on Thursday.
The new precision deep strike capability will be among the most advanced systems ever designed by the UK to safeguard the British public and reinforce NATO deterrence, while boosting the UK and European defense sectors, the UK Ministry of Defense
Healy and Pistorius will also discuss a joint procurement program for Sting Ray torpedoes for P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, to improve both countries' ability to counter underwater threats.
British Defense Secretary John Healey said: 'The UK and Germany have never been closer, and the Trinity House Agreement is already making a positive impact on our security and economy. This partnership is helping us make defense an engine for growth—creating jobs, boosting skills, and driving investment across the UK and Germany.
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5/14/2025
5/14/2025
'In a more dangerous world, NATO and European allies stand united. Together with Germany, we're leading the way in supporting Ukraine, defending NATO's eastern flank, and jointly investing in next-generation capabilities.'
Britain was a founding member of NATO, joining the alliance in 1949, while West Germany joined in 1955 during the Cold War, with East Germany becoming part of the alliance after German reunification in 1990.
The nations are currently Europe's two biggest economies.
Further details on the project's timeline or budget have not yet been released.
Since the Trinity House Agreement was signed in October, German crews have joined RAF personnel in two flights on UK P-8 Poseidon aircraft, London's Defense Ministry said.
The ministers will meet again on Friday alongside their Polish, Italian, and French counterparts in a meeting of the European Group of Five Defense ministers in Rome.
The quintet last met in Paris in March of this year, where they discussed support for Ukraine and Europe's place in NATO.
The move by Berlin and London comes amid a continent-wide recalibration of defense policy and expenditure after U.S. President Donald Trump made clear he expects Europe to take more responsibility for its own security.
Germany's parliament approved in March plans for a
The fiscal plan includes 500 billion euros (about $571 billion) for a special fund for infrastructure and plans to largely remove defense spending from domestic rules that cap borrowing.
Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron said he was 'ready to open a discussion' about
February saw German Chancellor Friedrich Merz call for a discussion on 'nuclear sharing' with France, while in March, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland was 'talking seriously with the French' about the 'idea of a nuclear umbrella over Europe.'
Plans moved forward on May 9 when Paris and Warsaw
Chris Summers and Reuters contributed to this report.
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