According to information published by the German Government on July 15, 2025, German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius announced during an official visit to Washington that Germany has submitted a formal Letter of Request to the United States for the procurement of the U.S.-developed Typhon ground-based missile system. The announcement, made following high-level discussions with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, signals a major step in Germany’s strategy to rapidly strengthen its long-range strike capability and address a persistent gap in NATO’s deterrence architecture. “The range of these weapons systems is significantly greater than what we currently have in Europe,” Pistorius stated. “With them, Germany can increase its own defense capabilities and significantly improve its deterrent capability – but also that of Europe.”
The Typhon system, officially designated by the U.S. Army as the Mid-Range Capability (MRC), is a newly fielded ground-based missile launcher that entered operational service in 2023. Developed by Lockheed Martin under the U.S. Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, the system provides the ability to launch both Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and SM-6 multi-role missiles from a containerized platform mounted on tactical vehicles. Each launcher unit integrates four Mk 41 Vertical Launch System cells housed in a 40-foot ISO-standard container, enabling both deep precision strike and limited air defense engagement options. The Tomahawk provides strike capability at ranges exceeding 1,600 kilometers, while the SM-6 can perform anti-air, anti-ship, and missile defense missions at ranges over 370 kilometers, offering versatile operational value on the battlefield.
The Typhon system was publicly tested for the first time in late 2022, with a successful full-system evaluation at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii. It became operational with the U.S. Army’s 1st Multi-Domain Task Force in 2023. A second battery followed in 2024. The first forward deployment took place in the Philippines under the U.S.-Philippines Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, where the system underwent training and evaluation, although no live-fire testing was conducted during that deployment.
In July 2025, during Exercise Talisman Sabre in Australia, Typhon achieved a historic milestone by conducting its first live-fire outside the continental United States. During the exercise, the U.S. Army successfully launched an SM-6 missile from a Typhon launcher to strike and destroy a maritime target, demonstrating the system’s operational flexibility and confirming its capability to engage sea-based targets from land. The strike was executed in coordination with Australian Defence Forces, involving intelligence sharing and command-and-control integration with Australia’s 10th Brigade. This operational debut in a multinational exercise has validated Typhon’s effectiveness in real combat conditions, showcasing its readiness for joint missions and interoperability with allied forces.
Germany’s move to procure the U.S. Typhon ground-based missile system comes in response to growing concerns over its limited long-range precision strike options. While Germany and several European partners are co-developing an indigenous system under the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA), that platform is not expected to become operational before 2032. Pistorius described the Typhon acquisition as a critical interim solution to maintain a credible deterrent capability until the European alternative is available. “That’s why this interim solution is important for us,” he said, stressing the urgency of enhancing Germany’s and NATO’s conventional deterrence posture in the current strategic environment.
Alongside the procurement request, the German Government has reached an agreement with the United States to host episodic deployments of U.S. medium-range missile systems, including Typhon, on German soil beginning in 2026. These deployments, covering ranges of up to 2,500 kilometers, are intended to support NATO deterrence efforts and provide strategic depth until European systems become operational. The forward basing of such assets reflects a broader shift in U.S.-European defense cooperation, reinforcing Germany’s role as a central hub for allied long-range fires on the continent.
The German Ministry of Defense is now awaiting a formal response to its Letter of Request, which will trigger detailed negotiations on availability, configuration, and cost under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales framework. If approved, Germany would become the first international operator of the Typhon system. This acquisition would mark a historic expansion of Germany’s long-range precision strike capabilities and further solidify the strategic integration between U.S. and European defense postures.
U.S. Typhon’s ground-based missile system deployment in Germany would significantly alter the European missile landscape, offering immediate deep-strike capacity against high-value targets such as command nodes, air bases, and logistics hubs at ranges never before available to European ground forces. As NATO continues to adapt to evolving threats, Germany’s initiative to acquire this cutting-edge system underscores its commitment to rapid modernization and to securing a stronger, more credible European pillar within the alliance.
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