Berlin — Germany has officially submitted a request to purchase Typhon medium-range missile launchers from the United States, a move that Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed on Monday during a press briefing. The system, capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles and SM‑6 interceptors, has an operational range of approximately 2,000 kilometers, an unprecedented reach for a system to be deployed on German soil.
According to Germany’s national newspaper WELT, Pistorius emphasized that the Typhon system would fill a temporary capability gap while European nations develop their own long-range precision strike weapons, a process expected to take between seven and ten years.
The Defense Minister also stated that Germany was acting under the framework of a 2024 agreement made with the Biden administration to enhance NATO’s integrated deterrence against emerging threats. “I am very confident that last year’s agreement is still valid, but we are still waiting for a final decision,” Pistorius said.
The Typhon system, developed by Lockheed Martin, was first deployed by the US Army in 2023 as part of its Mid-Range Capability (MRC) program. It is designed to bridge the gap between shorter-range systems like HIMARS and longer-range strategic assets, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles.
A missile system once prohibited
The proposed deployment would have violated the now-defunct 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which banned ground-launched missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers. The treaty was terminated in 2019 when the United States withdrew, accusing Russia of violating its terms, an allegation Moscow has denied.
As reported by Tasnim News Agency, the range of the Typhon system, estimated to be over 2,000 kilometers, would place much of western Russia within reach if stationed in Germany.
Germany’s Ministry of Defense has not specified how many units it intends to procure or where the systems would be stationed, but military experts note that even limited deployment could significantly alter the regional security landscape.
A regional shift in defense priorities
Germany’s request for the Typhon system reflects not just a shift in NATO’s military posture but also a growing dependency on American arms systems in Europe. While Berlin long avoided acquiring long-range ground-based missiles due to the lessons of the Cold War, the move now signals a clear alignment with Washington’s deterrence doctrine, drawing Europe further into confrontation with Russia.
Although Defense Minister Boris Pistorius claimed the system would serve only as part of a “layered defense” approach, critics argue such terminology masks the offensive potential of placing 2,000km-range missiles within striking distance of Moscow. As reported by Reuters, Pistorius framed it as a temporary measure, yet the historical precedent—such as the 1980s Pershing II deployments, suggests such moves are rarely reversed.
Ongoing approval process
The US Department of Defense has not yet confirmed receipt of Germany’s formal request. However, according to standard foreign military sales protocol, such a procurement would be subject to Congressional review and approval by the US State Department and Pentagon.
If approved, the deployment timeline could extend into 2026, in line with initial planning discussed under the Biden administration. Whether the plan will proceed under the Trump administration remains uncertain, though German officials have expressed confidence that existing agreements will be honored.
For now, Berlin’s move signals a deeper integration of US strike systems into NATO’s European theater, and a potential re-militarization of the continent not seen since the Cold War era.
