German officials are seeking US approval for a joint weapons production agreement, sources familiar with the matter told the Financial Times on 1/7. This push comes ahead of a NATO summit scheduled for next week in Turkey.

One source indicated that Germany and the US are discussing ways to coordinate cooperation between their defense industries. Another source stated these talks encompass "anything that can help both countries strengthen their defense capabilities," specifically mentioning the co-production of tomahawk cruise missiles and PAC-3 patriot interceptor missiles.

A PAC-3 MSE missile leaves its launcher during a test in the US. Photo: Lockheed Martin

German and US defense companies already share several partnerships. For instance, Rheinmetall manufactures fuselage sections for Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter jets. Furthermore, MBDA-Raytheon intends to open a facility later this year to produce older PAC-2 and GEM-T interceptors for the patriot system.

The Belgium-based analysis group Army Recognition states that Germany's goal to produce tomahawk and PAC-3 missiles is integral to its 100 billion euros (approximately 114 billion USD) budget for armed forces expansion. This initiative also aims to shorten delivery times and diversify NATO's missile industrial base.

This strategy further seeks to lessen dependence on US production lines, which face immense pressure from high demand from various nations due to ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Additionally, this move would enable nations like Germany to acquire weapons more quickly, especially as they strive to replenish stockpiles depleted by aid to Ukraine. Nevertheless, any decision regarding the overseas production of sensitive US technology requires explicit approval from Washington.

A tomahawk missile launched from an Australian warship in 12/2024. Photo: Royal Australian Navy

A source confirmed that the German government has approached MBDA's local branch regarding collaboration with Raytheon, the tomahawk missile manufacturer, to develop a ground-launched variant with a 2,000 km range. While MBDA and Raytheon share a long history of cooperation, direct negotiations concerning tomahawk production have not yet occurred. US defense companies currently face substantial order backlogs and ongoing delays in sourcing critical components, such as solid-fuel rocket motors.

Furthermore, Germany seeks to address potential deterrence gaps should the US realign its NATO commitments and reallocate military resources to the Indo-Pacific region.

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP, AP, FT, Reuters)