Germany Approves Funding for Supersonic Naval Missile Development and Extensive Missile Purchases

 

Germany's parliament has approved funding for the acquisition of thousands of missiles and the development of a supersonic naval cruise missile, as announced by the Defence Ministry.

In collaboration with Norway, Germany will work on developing the supersonic Tyrfing missile. A key parliamentary committee released funds for Berlin's first venture into creating modern naval missiles, which currently are mostly French or American-made.

While Norway and its state-owned arms manufacturer Kongsberg will lead the project, Germany plans to invest approximately €650 million ($695 million) into the development through 2033.

The new missile, named 3SM Tyrfing, is slated to be operational by 2035. The contract, expected to finalize by August, will involve Diehl Defence and MBDA working on the German side.

Initially, Germany’s portion will be funded from Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s special military fund, established following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In subsequent years, funding will come from the regular defense budget.

Kongsberg describes the Tyrfing as a “new super missile” to succeed the Naval Strike Missile developed in the early 2000s. The 3SM (Super Sonic Strike Missile) is anticipated to be ready by 2035. Besides Norway and Germany, Kongsberg aims to market the missile to other European armed forces.

Additionally, the German budget committee has approved purchasing up to 3,266 Brimstone 3 rockets, scheduled for delivery by 2033 under a contract expected to pass next month. Initially, 274 missiles and necessary equipment will be purchased from MBDA Germany for about €376 million. An additional 29 Brimstones will be used for operational testing and 75 for training and telemetry.

These rockets are intended for the Eurofighter fleet, the core of Germany’s Air Force. Berlin first announced plans to acquire the air-to-ground missile in 2017. The British Royal Air Force has utilized the Brimstone family of missiles for nearly two decades, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. A contingent of German Eurofighters is also deployed in the Baltics to bolster NATO’s stance against Russia.

The parliamentary budget committee also approved acquiring 506 Stinger man-portable air defense systems, valued at approximately €395 million, to replace 500 ground-to-air missiles sent to Ukraine.

Germany has been a leading supporter of Ukraine, providing more military aid than any country except the United States. According to the Germany-based Kiel Institute for the World Economy, the German government has sent €10.2 billion in military aid to Ukraine as of the end of April 2024.

After F-16, France to Supply Ukraine with Mirage 2000-5 Jets and Train Pilots by End of Year

 

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will provide Mirage 2000-5 jets to Ukraine and begin pilot training this summer, aiming for completion by the year's end. Macron revealed this in an interview with TF1 and France 2 during the D-Day commemorations in Normandy, where he was joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

France is forming a coalition with other nations to supply the jets, similar to the European coalition providing Ukraine with F-16 fighters. Macron stated, "We will launch a new cooperation program and transfer Mirage 2000-5 jets to enable Ukraine to defend its territory and airspace. Pilot training will start immediately, followed by the aircraft transfer."

The Mirage 2000-5, produced by Dassault Aviation, is an advanced air defense variant with enhanced radar and compatibility with Mica air-to-air missiles and Scalp cruise missiles, the latter already supplied to Ukraine. Macron did not specify the number of jets but mentioned details would be shared when Zelenskyy visits Paris.

"The critical factor is the training duration, typically five to six months. We'll propose to President Zelenskyy that pilots start training this summer in France, so they can operate the aircraft by year-end," Macron added.

Other countries like the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium have also pledged to supply F-16 jets to Ukraine, with pilot training ongoing in various European nations.

Additionally, France plans to train and equip a brigade of 4,500 Ukrainian soldiers. Macron noted that training on Ukrainian soil, particularly in the western regions, would not escalate tensions with Russia.

Macron emphasized that Ukraine has the right to use French weapons to target Russian positions attacking Ukraine, stating, "Restricting such use would prevent Ukrainians from defending against bombings. The limit is dictated by Russian actions."

Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu and several defense firms, including KNDS, Thales, MBDA, Dassault Aviation, and Arquus, in Paris. He will also sign a letter of intent with KNDS to establish a unit in Ukraine, according to the Armed Forces Ministry.

MBDA Germany Unveils New Long-Range Cruise Missile for Future Combat Air System at Berlin Air Show

 As the European next-generation fighter program, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), led by France, Germany, and Spain, continues to develop, MBDA Germany has introduced a conceptual standoff-range cruise missile that may become a key component of FCAS.

According to Flight Global, the new missile concept, named ‘remote carrier multi-domain multi-role effector’ (RCM²), was revealed at the ILA Berlin Air Show. The missile is expected to have a strike range exceeding 500 kilometers.

A replica of the approximately 4-meter-long design is on display at the FCAS exhibit at the ILA Berlin Air Show, which began on June 5 and will continue until June 9.

Thomas Gottschild, managing director of MBDA Germany, stated that the RCM² would be suitable for various missions, with performance comparable to the current Taurus cruise missile.

The Taurus missile is known for its long range of about 500 kilometers, advanced navigation systems, and high accuracy. Its terrain-contour matching navigation system makes it less susceptible to electronic jamming, and its extended range enhances the safety of fighter jet pilots. However, Gottschild emphasized that the RCM² would offer additional capabilities, such as carrying different payloads, including a kinetic warhead or electronic combat and jamming tools, making it versatile for various scenarios.

Without an extended booster, the RCM² is expected to have a launch weight under 340 kilograms. It will be equipped with an imaging infrared seeker, an inertial navigation system, and a turbofan engine.

This missile's unveiling comes at a time when FCAS is gaining momentum after experiencing delays and difficulties among the three partner nations. Gottschild also mentioned a joint project with Rheinmetall to develop a small anti-drone missile.

Furthermore, Gottschild has urged Germany to consider integrating the Meteor air-to-air missile from MBDA with its incoming fleet of 35 Lockheed Martin F-35A aircraft.

MBDA was not the only company to make headlines at the Berlin Air Show. Airbus revealed a full-sized model of its futuristic unmanned wingman concept aircraft and announced a new collaboration with German AI startup Helsing to develop AI capabilities for the airframe.

The new aircraft, known as Wingman, is designed to meet the evolving operational needs of the German Air Force. According to Airbus, it will operate alongside manned combat aircraft, such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, to enhance capability and maintain air superiority. The Wingman will be controlled by a manned fighter jet pilot, adhering to human-in-the-loop protocols.

Additionally, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that Germany would purchase several Eurofighter Typhoons.

MBDA Expresses Frustration Over Delayed Missile Contracts in Germany

 MBDA, a prominent missile manufacturer known for products like the Taurus cruise missile and Patriot anti-aircraft missiles, has voiced dissatisfaction with the German government's sluggishness in finalizing defense contracts. Led by Thomas Gottschild, the German subsidiary of MBDA, the company emphasizes the need for expedited decision-making to meet rising demand.

Gottschild highlights the adverse effects of delayed orders, resulting in a halt in Taurus missile production and disruptions in supplier operations. Resuming production involves reestablishing supply chains, particularly in critical sectors like explosives, to ensure continuity and expertise retention.

Despite challenges, progress is evident in fulfilling state orders for Patriot missiles in collaboration with Raytheon. However, MBDA criticizes Germany's reluctance to supply Taurus missiles to Ukraine amid escalating tensions with Russia.

Ukraine's repeated requests for Taurus missiles, emphasizing their non-aggressive intent, have faced skepticism from the German government. Concerns about inadvertently escalating the conflict and entanglement in war deter Germany from transferring the missiles, despite proposals from allies like Britain to facilitate the transfer indirectly.

While pressure mounts domestically and internationally for Germany to reconsider its stance, Chancellor Scholz remains firm, underscoring the symbolic significance of Taurus missiles amid complex geopolitical dynamics.