Plans for a new 2,000km-range strike weapon being developed jointly by the UK and Germany remain at the early conceptual stage, with key decisions on design and delivery platforms yet to be made, according to answers provided by the Ministry of Defence on 22 May 2025.
Responding to written parliamentary questions from James Cartlidge MP, Minister of State Maria Eagle confirmed that the weapon’s specific characteristics—such as whether it will be a cruise missile, ballistic missile, or hypersonic weapon—are still under consideration.
“UK and Germany are considering several concepts and technologies to address emerging threats and have defined a joint range requirement of over 2,000 km,” she said. “Specific characteristics, in-service dates and launch platforms are to be confirmed.”
The questions follow a Ministry of Defence news update earlier this month announcing the launch of the joint development under the Trinity House Agreement, the UK-Germany bilateral defence cooperation framework signed in October 2024.
The 2,000km “deep precision strike” system is intended to enhance NATO’s long-range deterrence capability and is billed as one of the most advanced munitions ever designed by the UK. It is expected to be compatible with future force structures and support both air and naval integration.
Asked whether the missile would require a bespoke launch vehicle, the Minister reiterated that no final decisions had been made on platforms, indicating that further assessment and design work is ongoing.
The announcement of the joint programme came during the inaugural Trinity House Defence Ministerial Council in Berlin on 15 May 2025, where UK Defence Secretary John Healey and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius discussed deepening defence collaboration across Europe.
The project is also expected to generate skilled defence sector jobs and contribute to strengthening industrial bases in both countries, while reinforcing NATO’s ability to counter emerging strategic threats.
We’ll have so many conceptual missiles soon that we won’t know which to buy.
I’m noting now this weapon is being described as having a range of over 2000km. Around 2500km puts much of European Russia at risk from the UK.
Pretty much the only part of Russia worth hitting (apart from their ballistic missile silos) so Putin will be sh..ing himself his gold plated Dachas will be at risk.
If the range is indeed 2500km and not the quoted 2000km, then you get to Moscow, just.
Can’t but help thinking and agreeing with @DM et al, that this a vehicle launched missile.
All the Baltic and Murmansk region bases are reachable from UK with 2000 km.
If air or sea launched then most of north west European Russia is reachable from North Sea…or from Germany land based
It’s going to be a land ( vehicle) launched system judging by the intended range of the missile. We already have air/sea/sub surface missiles, so, unless we are going to scrap some of our future projects then this is in all probability a land based missile.
BAOR is long gone, very unlikely we will be basing any in Germany.
Germany is part of NATO and part of Project…hence the comment about Germany.
Current projects have been in development for past 15-20 years. This one is just starting.
ASRAAM/ CAMM is a great example of taling a core design for one environment and adapting it to two other’s. Brimstone is another.
UK has to get smarter at spreading development costs and achieving economies of scale.
Always assumed a vehicle. If it is that accurate it may be a high priority target for Russia so dispersal like GLCM an option?
Germany with ballistic missiles?
I’m not sure that’s going to fly . . . with the German public.
Just hope someone remembers to insert a clause that the Uk can use and sell the system without German authorisation….
If they don’t mess it up!
Then we will have an excellent air and naval weapon
But we need them in big numbers
As usual, it will come down to how much £££
This is all conceptual. Bets on the to be announced ISD and the achieved ISD.
2035 ISD actually ISD 2040
ISD 2036 ACTUALLY 2050. based on Spear 3 performance
A medium ( or intermediate ) range ballistic missile ? developing a conventional one of those from scratch will be insanely expensive.
The only reason you could want that is if you looking a your domestic nuclear weapons program… and strategic deterrence.
As for air and sea launched again why would you have a conventional sea and air launched medium range ballistic missile ? an insanely expensive weapon system and I don’t believe anyone has those..
Especially as the UK is already developing a perfectly good long range sea and air launched ground attack missile with France..
Also what platforms would it fit on ? A 2000km range ballistic missile is looking at 11meters long and 10,000+ pounds your needing a strategy bomber or a ballistic missile submarine..
Something tells me this may be a bit of confused programming that has a goal people are not sure they want to be honest about.. German and the UK developing a joint strategic deterrence..
Not saying I’m against it, but if that is the case why not a joint UK France and Germany programme… maybe France has in the background pissed of the Germans by always wanting to be incharge of weapons programmes 🤔
After all there are a lot of joint german and other nations programmes developing without France…
A German Italian MBT ( while Germany is also developing a franco German tank)
A UK German long range potentially strategic weapon
A UK German 155mm gun system
A UK German APC
A UK Italian ( Japanese ) 6th generation fighter
A UK polish air defence system
France seems to be being cut out of a lot of programmes… mainly by the Germans 😳
@ Jonathan ALBM “Golden Horizon” (Israel) L- 8 m. 6800- 7000 pounds, 2000 km. “5M”+, СЕР: 4 -5 m. (EO) F-15I or C-130… Regards.
your talking about silver sparrow
Length 8.39 meters, 7000lbs weight, range is considered up to 2000km, but probably something between that and blue sparrows 1000km range most estimate it’s likely 1500km, but very importantly it has never been seen on an F15 or evidenced that it’s been tested from an f15.. just a C130. It’s also essentially a drone missile target
Golden Horizon is a secret name for something within the sparrow family and could refer to a strike version of blue sparrow ( which has been seen on f15) or a strike version of silver sparrow which is entirely mysterious and never ever been seen.
Excellent development, can’t wait to work with the Germans on the next lunar landing.
“Fly me to the Moon”.
No way UK will pay for this when it becomes apparent the cost. Why do we waste millions on so many concepts?? Just buy some damned hardware and employ more service personel.
Brilliant! This sort of partnership with Germany is exactly what we need. They now have the dosh ( debt brake) and we have the nuclear knowhow!