(NewsInsights.org) – In 2026, the US will periodically deploy a series of powerful new long-range weapons in Germany, according to a joint statement from both governments. The strategic expansion initiative will implement established technologies, including the Tomahawk and Standard Missile 6 (SM-6) systems, as well as “developmental hypersonic weapons.”
The White House briefing stopped short of specifying exactly which cutting-edge products would fall under this umbrella term. Analysts speculate that the US government will likely include the Typhon firing system itself and the Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW).
Known colloquially as “Dark Eagle,” the LRHW was developed by Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin over the last decade. While it is still technically in testing, the Department of Defense (DoD) confirmed that it successfully completed an end-to-end flight test on the missile at the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii on June 28, 2024.
The decision to collaborate with Germany on the new weapon rollout was likely influenced by the dissolution of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. This agreement, first enacted during the Cold War, helped eliminate intermediate and shorter-range missiles that represented a threat to Europe at the time.
Concerns about China’s rapid expansion of missile capabilities, along with Russia’s refusal to comply with the terms of the INF, convinced the US government to withdraw from the treaty in August 2019. In a statement released the same day, NATO Allies showed support for the decision and directly blamed Russia for its collapse. They also vowed to implement a “balanced, coordinated and defensive package of measures” in response.
The ongoing war in Ukraine has also exposed significant vulnerabilities in NATO’s current defenses. Russia’s Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) systems have made it extremely difficult for the Ukrainian military to regain control over contested regions. They’ve also given President Putin’s army the ability to take out critical infrastructure points, like seaports and transportation routes, from great distances.
In 2023, the US Government began issuing long-range weapons, including the Storm Shadow and Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), to Ukraine. This decision significantly bolstered the country’s defenses, allowing it to strike back at targets in contested areas and, in some cases, beyond.
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