In a joint statement released today at the NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., the United States and Germany announced plans to deploy long-range fires units to Germany by 2026. These new capabilities, which will exceed the range of current land-based fires in Europe, are aimed at demonstrating the United States' commitment to NATO and strengthening European integrated deterrence.

The long-range fires capabilities will include the deployment of SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles, as well as developmental hypersonic weapons. These advanced capabilities will be integrated into the U.S. Army's Multidomain Task Force (MDTF) in Germany, as part of the Army's strategy to establish five MDTF units worldwide.

Defense News initially reported in April that the European MDTF would be fully established in fiscal year 2026 with the addition of a Long-Range Fires Battalion (LRFB). This move aligns with the Army's plan to complete all MDTF units by fiscal year 2028. The LRFB in Europe will be focused on the European theater and will join the already established 2nd MDTF in the region.

The Army's MDTF units are designed to operate across all domains - land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace. Equipped with the Army's growing capabilities, including long-range precision fires, the MDTFs aim to enhance the Army's operational effectiveness and rapid deployment capabilities.

Furthermore, the Army has chosen Lockheed Martin to build the Mid-Range Capability (MRC) prototype, a system that fills the gap between the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) and ground-launched hypersonic missiles. The MRC system, which incorporates elements from naval missiles such as SM-6 and Tomahawk, consists of a battery operations center, vertical launch systems, prime movers, and modified trailers.

While the Army's hypersonic weapon capability has experienced delays due to testing difficulties, the service delivered the first hypersonic weapon capability (minus the all-up rounds) to I Corps' 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Field Artillery Brigade unit at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. Testing challenges at the range have led to a series of failed or aborted flight tests, necessitating further testing this summer. Successful test results could potentially lead to the fielding of the first rounds to the first battalion at JBLM in fiscal year 2025.

The U.S. deployment of long-range fires units to Germany by 2026 represents a significant step in strengthening transatlantic security and showcasing America's commitment to NATO. These advanced capabilities will enhance European integrated deterrence and provide the U.S. Army with greater operational flexibility and effectiveness in the European theater.