UK Defense Secretary, Wes Streeting, traveled to Berlin on Monday to discuss closer military cooperation with Germany. Internal documents from the German Ministry of Defense indicate that the two countries are facing significant challenges in their collaborations.
Division of Responsibilities and Technological Challenges
These documents, prepared for internal negotiations with defense companies, show that the UK and Germany intend to divide responsibility for the development of two new types of missiles. In this context, industrial competition and technological challenges are also at play.
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Russia's war against Ukraine has highlighted weaknesses in European defense, and uncertainty regarding long-term U.S. military commitments has increased pressure on European governments to develop more weapons independently.
Key Projects
In this cooperation, a plan is underway to develop weapons capable of targeting at distances over 2000 kilometers. This project, known as the “Deep Precision Strike” or DPS, aims to equip European forces with the ability to strike deep into enemy lines without reliance on American missiles.
The UK is responsible for developing a missile known as the “High-Tech Cruise Missile,” with the first version expected to be ready for military use by 2032. Germany is also responsible for developing a weapon that moves at several times the speed of sound, aiming to be ready by 2035.
These two weapons form the core of the collaboration, but Germany and the UK are also looking for other ways to enhance their long-range strike capabilities.
For the two-part DPS project, significant investment is required. The UK has allocated £770 million for four years to this project, while Germany has identified over €9 billion for future costs.
However, agreeing on which country will lead each project is only part of the task. The two countries must decide which companies will develop the weapons.
In this regard, the German Ministry of Defense has planned for two companies to compete for the development of prototypes of hypersonic weapons. This competition may bring sensitivities.
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