Germany Considering Purchase of Mobile Tomahawk Missile Launchers

Germany is exploring the possibility of acquiring Typhon mobile launchers from the United States, which are capable of launching long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius shared this update with journalists during his visit to Washington, as reported by ntv.

He emphasized that these advanced systems will play a key role in strengthening deterrence efforts.

“Simply put, these are ground-based launchers that can fire various guided missiles over different distances,” Pistorius said.

The American Tomahawk cruise missiles, which are launched from the Typhon systems, could reach targets in Russia from German territory.

However, the German Defense Minister emphasized that if purchased, these systems would be used exclusively for deterrence.

According to Pistorius, no final decision on the purchase has been made yet. Germany has only expressed interest in the weapons, and the United States is currently assessing whether it is ready to proceed with the delivery of these systems.

MRC Typhon

The missile launchers of the MRC Typhon system are an evolution of the naval Mk41 vertical launch systems, adapted for land-based launches. Their dimensions match those of a standard 40-foot shipping container, allowing them to be transported by conventional trucks.

Each launcher contains four cells, which can accommodate existing types of naval missiles: subsonic Tomahawk cruise missiles for striking ground targets, or long-range SM-6 surface-to-air missiles capable of intercepting aerial and ballistic threats.

In April of this year, it was announced that American company Lockheed Martin is holding preliminary talks with the Japanese industry regarding the transfer of technology for the licensed production of containerized launchers for the MRC Typhon system.

If deployed in Japan, the missile system’s range would cover Taiwan and parts of the South China Sea.

In 2024, Japan signed a contract for the delivery of 200 Tomahawk Block 4 cruise missiles, with the first missiles scheduled for delivery as early as 2025, under the terms of the contract.