UK and Germany unite to develop 1,240-mile range missile
Amid ongoing tensions between the EU and the USA and the conflict in Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Germany have decided to collaborate on the development of a cruise missile with a range of 1,240 miles.
As reported by Reuters, the UK and Germany will work together to create new, precise long-range weaponry capable of striking targets over 1,240 miles away. This decision is part of a bilateral defence cooperation agreement signed at the end of 2024.
This is the type of weapon Europe needs
Currently, Europe only possesses the Taurus KEPD 350 and Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles with a range of 310 miles, and the MdCN missiles used by France, which are ship-launched and have twice the range. No other weapons exist at present. Additionally, the French are developing a land-based version known as the LCM.
The strained relations with the USA and Russia's widespread use of the Ch-101 missile family in Ukraine have underscored the need for a European counterpart to these missiles or the American AGM-86 Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) and AGM-158B JASSM-ER.
Unfortunately, the announcement does not specify any timelines or budgetary parameters for the new cruise missile. However, it is worth noting that both the UK and Germany have substantial expertise in developing cruise missiles.
UK and Germany's long-range cruise missile — Here's what it might look like
The new missile is expected to be largely based on the Storm Shadow or Taurus models but will be longer and possibly wider to accommodate a larger fuel supply. This will also increase its mass, which is likely to exceed 2 tons, compared to the current 1.3-1.4 tons of the existing models.
The guidance and warhead fusing systems are likely to remain similar due to their technological maturity and lower costs. The guidance system involves a combination of inertial and satellite navigation, supported by an electro-optical head that captures a thermal image of the target, ensuring pinpoint accuracy under all conditions.
Furthermore, this system allows for terrain mapping and comparison with a preloaded map, maintaining precision even in heavily GPS-jammed environments. The fuze, borrowed from the MEPHISTO warhead, can detect obstacles and empty spaces, enabling precise detonation, such as on the second floor of a bunker. This increases effectiveness by eliminating the risk of miscalculations associated with more conventional fuze settings.
The new design will incorporate stealth technology, be adapted for low-level flight, and likely feature a more fuel-efficient turbojet engine. There is also potential for incorporating artificial intelligence algorithms in the guidance system or coordinating a swarm of missiles in flight, as pursued by the UK MBDA division with the Orchestrike system.
