Britain and Germany’s defense cooperation plans face tough choices
U.K. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting visits Berlin as the two countries advance plans for long-range missiles and Germany weighs joining Britain’s fighter jet program.
British Defence Secretary Wes Streeting recently journeyed to Berlin to explore enhanced military collaboration with Germany. However, German defense ministry documents reveal the two nations still grapple with critical decisions regarding their shared objectives. The briefing materials, compiled for internal deliberations with defense firms prior to Streeting's visit, outline plans for developing two long-range missile systems.
The first, a low-flying cruise missile, will be led by Britain and ready for use by 2032. Germany will oversee a hypersonic glide vehicle capable of traveling several times the speed of sound, with a projected military deployment by 2035. The partnership extends beyond these two weapons, as both countries explore additional avenues to bolster their long-range strike capabilities.
Britain has pledged £770 million over four years for the missile initiative, while Germany has earmarked over €9 billion for future spending. However, determining which companies will develop the weapons poses a challenge, as multiple contenders vie for the contracts. The German-led hypersonic weapon will be developed by a competition between MBDA, a well-established European missile manufacturer, and the British startup Hypersonica.
The rivalry could be contentious, as MBDA may fear that Hypersonica's junior status might facilitate knowledge transfer from the British team. Additionally, the role of France in the partnership remains uncertain. Although France committed to collaborating with Britain on long-range weapons in July, disagreements over technical rights have complicated talks about ArianeGroup's potential involvement in developing a booster for the hypersonic missile.
As Britain and Germany refine their plans, the next phase involves translating these ideas into concrete agreements. Officials have hinted at preliminary commitments before the end of the year, though the specifics of any formal agreements remain unclear. While advancing their missile project, Britain and Germany are also reevaluating their long-term defense strategies.
The collapse of Britain's joint fighter jet program with France has prompted a search for new allies. Britain has proactively approached Germany with an invitation to participate in the advanced fighter program it is developing in conjunction with Italy and Japan, known as GCAP. German officials, however, express reservations about the British proposal, highlighting the complexities of coordinating with allies like Sweden and Spain.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
