Lockheed Plans Accelerated Typhon Missile Delivery to Germany Amid Sales Talks

Lockheed Martin has committed to accelerating the production of Typhon missile launchers for Germany, contingent upon the completion of a foreign military sales agreement between Berlin and Washington. The company’s facility in Moorestown, New Jersey, is prepared to deliver the launchers within a year, aligning with Germany’s timeline to enhance its long-range strike capabilities. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius emphasized that the Typhon system would serve solely as a counterstrike deterrent against Russia, marking a significant shift in Germany’s defense posture. The Typhon system, a land-based adaptation of the naval Mk-41 vertical launch system, can deploy missiles such as Tomahawks and SM-6s with ranges up to 2,000 kilometers, significantly expanding Germany’s military reach. The acquisition is part of broader German and U.S. strategic efforts, including a bilateral agreement to station mid-range weapons in Germany by 2026, though parliamentary approval in Germany may face political scrutiny. The U.S. Army’s Mid-Range Capability program, which repurposed the Typhon system for ground use, aims to fill critical gaps in engaging moving land and sea targets and is central to U.S. and allied long-range strike strategies.