NATO’s $50 Billion Effort Seeks Deep-Strike Weapons Without US

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(Bloomberg) — The UK, France and Germany have launched a $50 billion NATO initiative to spur the development of long-range weapons without US involvement, aiming to close the gap in an area where Russia is well ahead. 

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The three nations, alongside other European allies, will work over the next decade to develop strike systems to hit targets more than 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) away with pinpoint accuracy — a capability missing from the continent’s arsenals. The program will coordinate expertize, technological advances and industry across the countries involved, according to the UK government.

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Germany’s Taurus and the British-French Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missile, which can reach targets as much as 500 kilometers (310 miles) away, are the only two long-range weapons of their type in Europe. But their numbers have been depleted by donations to Ukraine, which has used them to strike Russian energy and military production hubs. 

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The long-range strike shortage in Europe has long been a concern in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which has seen Russia use hundreds of long-range conventional strike weapons in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That worry has grown since US President Donald Trump cancelled the planned deployment of BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles in Germany. The weapons are in short supply because of the Iran war, when hundreds were fired.

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“This UK-led initiative will allow us to step up our cooperation, bringing European allies together to ensure NATO remains safe and secure for years to come,” said departing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. 

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The initiative will coordinate existing development programs, including a UK-Germany precision strike pact and the UK-French successor to the Storm Shadow missile, MBDA’s Stratus. 

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It is unclear how it fits into the separate European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA), launched two years ago to develop such weapons for the continent. That has not yet led to any known procurement orders as the missiles remain under development. 

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In a separate announcement, NATO members laid out $54 billion in industry deals, including $26 billion for integrated air and missile defenses. 

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The UK is also overseeing the Brakestop program, which aims to create cheaper, smaller Storm Shadow-type weapons for Ukraine that do not rely on any US components or data. 

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But even as Europe drifts away from Washington, the UK announced last week that it would join the US-led Lockheed Martin Corp. Precision Strike Missile program. 

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That will equip the British Army with a supersonic ballistic missile capable of hitting targets up to 500km away, with the first delivery expected next year. The announcement came after UK Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis met with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

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“Our new suite of deep precision strike weapons will give our forces the ability to strike targets hundreds of kilometers away with great accuracy – strengthening NATO and deterring our adversaries,” Jarvis said. 

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