The UK and Germany are jointly developing deep-strike options including a stealthy cruise missile and a hypersonic glide vehicle, with both countries working towards outline entry into service during the 2030s.
The UK and Germany are working on both stealthy cruise missile and hypersonic glide vehicle solutions under their joint Deep Precision Strike programme, with outline in-service dates extending into the 2030s, the UK Defence Journal understands.
Defence Minister Luke Pollard provided further detail on the programme in a written parliamentary answer to Conservative MP Stuart Anderson, who asked what the UK’s partnership with Germany on deep precision strike weapons entails.
Pollard confirmed that a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two countries in March 2026 has allowed British and German teams to begin aligning their military requirements and jointly examining technical solutions with industry.
He said: “The UK and Germany signed a Memorandum of Understanding in March 2026 which has enabled joint activities, including with industry, to align military requirements and invest in technical solutions under the Deep Precision Strike programme.”
The programme is examining two distinct missile approaches. Pollard confirmed: “The programme includes Stealthy Cruise and Hypersonic Glide Vehicle missile solutions.”
A stealthy cruise missile would broadly pursue survivability through reduced detectability and a powered flight profile, while a hypersonic glide vehicle represents a different technical approach, travelling at hypersonic speed following launch and manoeuvring towards its target. The parliamentary answer does not provide performance figures, ranges or details of the propulsion and launch arrangements envisaged for either solution, of course.
Pollard said the two governments had reached what he described as “positive alignment” on some of the principal requirements for the programme. He said: “There is positive alignment between the UK and Germany on key programme parameters, including operational concepts and outline target in service dates into the 2030s.”
The wording indicates that the programme remains at a relatively early technical and requirements stage, with the two countries working towards common operational concepts before later development and procurement decisions. British and German teams are currently overseeing technical work already placed with industry while preparing the next stage of contracting.
Pollard said: “Joint UK and Germany teams are now focused on delivering the currently contracted technical work with industry as well as shaping follow on contracts, underpinned in the UK by the funding outlined under the Defence Investment Plan.”
The Deep Precision Strike effort forms part of growing UK-German defence cooperation and is intended to address future requirements for weapons capable of striking targets at considerable distance. The latest answer is significant in explicitly identifying both stealthy cruise and hypersonic glide vehicle solutions as components of the work, while also placing the anticipated service timeframe in the 2030s.
The current phase is focused on technical work with industry, alignment of military requirements and the preparation of follow-on contracts as Britain and Germany determine how the programme will progress towards development and eventual fielding.
From Farnborough it looked like MBDA were pushing for us and Germany to adopt the Ariane Group’s ballistic missile boosters and use their new hypersonic glide body on top, which seems a good option if affordable.