Germany is reportedly considering the acquisition of American BGM-109 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles as a temporary solution while it awaits the completion of the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA) missiles.
German media outlet Hartpunkt first reported the news, citing “well-informed” sources within the German defense ministry.
Germany’s interest in Tomahawk missiles is driven by the weapon’s ground-based long-range strike capability, which allows precision attacks on targets over 2,000 kilometers away. This includes strategic enemy positions such as command centers, ammunition depots, and air bases.
The acquisition of these missiles would act as a “stopgap solution” while Germany and its European allies work on ELSA, a project focused on developing non-nuclear long-range strike systems.
According to the report, it remains unclear how advanced these ongoing discussions are. The war in Ukraine has exposed vulnerabilities in European defense, particularly in long-range precision strike options.
Europe’s defense industry has struggled to deliver a viable solution in the near term, which has left a capability gap that could persist for years. The report stated that the only European long-range cruise missile currently available is MBDA France’s MdCN, which was designed for naval operations.
However, adapting it for ground-based strikes would take years, and doubts remain over whether it can meet the required range of over 2,000 kilometers.
Berlin has been exploring multiple options to improve its long-range strike capabilities. The Luftwaffe (Air Force) recently began the process of upgrading its Taurus KEPD-350 cruise missile.
While the Taurus is considered highly effective against fortified targets, its 500-kilometer range is insufficient for deep-strike missions.
Another potential solution is the AGM-158B/B2 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER), which Germany will acquire alongside F-35 fighter jets. Yet, the operational capability for this system remains years away.
For the German Navy, existing missile systems like the RBS-15 and the future Naval Strike Missile lack the necessary range. The next-generation Norwegian-German 3SM Tyrfing missile, expected to enter service in 2035, could address this issue, but its introduction is more than a decade away.
With Europe’s indigenous long-range strike capabilities still years away, Germany may have little choice but to turn to the United States for a proven solution. Further, the systems mentioned above remain limited by their lack of a ground-based launch capability.
On the other hand, the Tomahawk acquisition would provide Germany with greater flexibility, helping its military retain key strike capabilities until a European alternative is available.
Unlike air-launched or naval strike options, ground-based missile systems offer advantages in survivability and mobility.
Despite Germany’s interest, political uncertainty may complicate the procurement process. The upcoming German parliamentary elections and the formation of a new government could delay or alter defense priorities.
Moreover, the stance of the new US administration under President Donald Trump remains unknown. The United States has previously approved Tomahawk exports to key allies, with the UK and Australia already fielding the missile.
Canada, Japan, and the Netherlands have also announced plans to integrate Tomahawks into their naval forces. Germany’s upcoming Class 127 frigates are also expected to be equipped with the system, though a final US decision on this has yet to be confirmed.
For ground-based operations, Lockheed Martin has developed the MK 70 Mod 1 launcher, which can house four Tomahawks in a single 40-foot container. The system is designed to be highly mobile and deployable across various terrains for a flexible deep-strike capability.
Meanwhile, recognizing the immediate shortfall, the Biden administration announced in 2023 that it would temporarily station long-range Tomahawk and SM-6 missile systems in Germany starting in 2026.
This deployment, part of a US Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF), is expected to lay the groundwork for potential permanent stationing.
European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA) Missile Project
In response to the growing disparity in standoff missile capabilities, France, Germany, Italy, and Poland initiated the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA) in the summer of 2024. Shortly after its launch, Sweden, Netherlands and the United Kingdom also joined the initiative.
This multinational effort aims to develop a new long-range strike capability, addressing a crucial gap in Europe’s defense posture.
While most ELSA member nations already operate air- and, in some cases, sea-launched cruise missiles, there remains a major limitation: no NATO country in Europe, apart from Turkey, currently possesses a conventional ground-launched missile with a range exceeding 300 kilometers.
This absence of a land-based long-range strike system is seen as a critical weakness, particularly in light of Russia’s extensive missile arsenal.
Moscow’s military has deployed a variety of ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles, giving it a decisive advantage in land-based strike options. Among these are the 9K720 Iskander-M, a short-range ballistic missile capable of hitting targets up to 500 kilometers away, and the 9M728 ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM), which has a 2,500-kilometer range.
Depending on where they are stationed, these Russian missile systems have the potential to strike targets across Europe. Additionally, European nations face a broader issue—insufficient investment in high-intensity combat capabilities.
According to the NATO Defense Planning Process, member states have been advised to close the widening gap in artillery capabilities relative to Russia. As a result, upgrading deep-strike capabilities has emerged as a pressing requirement for European security.
However, despite the broad consensus on the need for an advanced strike system, the specific direction of ELSA remains somewhat ambiguous. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) highlighted this uncertainty in a previous analysis.
Although unnamed European defense officials have suggested that the program aims to develop a ground-launched missile, the official communiqué does not explicitly confirm this.
This ambiguity became even more apparent when Sweden’s defense minister clarified that while Sweden does not currently prioritize ground-launched strike systems, the country sees potential for ELSA to contribute to aerial and naval strike capabilities, which align more closely with Stockholm’s strategic priorities.
Additionally, the IISS observed that ELSA participants might consider developing a ballistic missile as part of the initiative.
However, it noted that European defense-industrial firms have greater expertise in cruise missile development than in ballistic missile technology, making the creation of a new cruise missile a more likely outcome.
At this stage, many aspects of the program remain undefined, and more countries are anticipated to join ELSA before the project’s full scope is determined.
- Contact the author at ashishmichel(at)gmail.com
- Follow EurAsian Times on Google News
