Britain and Germany to build 2,000km range strike missiles

The UK and Germany have announced a new collaboration to develop a long-range precision strike weapon with a range exceeding 2,000 km.

The announcement marks the first major milestone under the Trinity House Agreement, signed in October 2024, which established the first bilateral defence cooperation framework between the two nations.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the weapon will be among the most advanced systems designed by the UK, aimed at enhancing NATO’s deterrence capability while supporting national security. The project is also expected to bolster the UK and European defence industries, creating skilled jobs and driving economic growth.

The agreement was revealed during the first Trinity House Defence Ministerial Council, held today in Berlin, where German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius hosted UK Defence Secretary John Healey MP. Discussions focused on how the Trinity House Agreement is strengthening European security and boosting economic development through defence collaboration.

Healey stated: “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 defence an engine for growth – creating jobs, boosting skills, and driving investment across the UK and Germany.”

Additionally, the two nations discussed a joint procurement programme for Sting Ray torpedoes for P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. This initiative aims to enhance the UK and Germany’s ability to counter underwater threats. Germany will also procure advanced British military bridges as part of the collaboration, supporting jobs in the North-west of England.

The next meeting of the UK and German defence ministers will take place tomorrow (16th May) in Rome, alongside their Polish, Italian, and French counterparts, as part of the European Group of Five (E5) Defence Ministers meeting.