(MENAFN) Germany has formally sought to acquire Typhon missile launchers from the United States, aiming to strengthen its defense capabilities amid rising tensions with Russia over the Ukraine conflict, according to reports.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed on Monday that Berlin submitted a request to Washington for the Typhon system, which is capable of launching both Tomahawk cruise missiles and SM-6 multi-role missiles. These weapons have a range of approximately 2,000 kilometers, allowing them to strike well beyond Moscow if launched from within German territory.

The Typhon system would serve as a temporary solution until Europe can develop its own long-range missile technology—a process Pistorius estimated could take between seven to ten years.

Despite the move, the minister acknowledged lingering uncertainty regarding whether the US will follow through with its earlier commitment to deploy long-range missiles to Germany starting in 2026. That plan was initially announced in 2024 by the administration of former President Joe Biden. “I am very confident that last year’s agreement is still valid, but we are still waiting for a final decision,” the minister said.

The deployment of such long-range systems would not have been permitted under the now-defunct 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), which previously banned land-based missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers.

Moscow sharply criticized the announcement, warning that it would consider itself “free” from its self-imposed moratorium on deploying similar missiles in response.

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