The U.S. and Germany on Wednesday announced the movement of more strategic weapons into Europe, including undeveloped hypersonic missile systems, as tensions continue to rise over Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The White House said that in 2026, it will begin “episodic deployments” of the surface-to-air missile Standard Missile-6, Tomahawk cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons in Germany, which the U.S. said have “significantly longer range than current land-based fires in Europe.”
“Exercising these advanced capabilities will demonstrate the United States’ commitment to NATO and its contributions to European integrated deterrence,” a White House release with Germany said.
The announcement comes as NATO leaders gather in Washington this week to mark the alliance’s 75th anniversary and draft new policy, including support for Ukraine.
Both the SM-6 and Tomahawks are primarily used as shipborne missiles. The U.S. has yet to develop a true hypersonic missile, which flies at least five times the speed of sound and is maneuverable in flight, though both Russia and China have fielded the weapons. Russia has also deployed a true hypersonic weapon in Ukraine.
But the U.S. is continuing to pour billions of dollars into hypersonic weapons development, with the Army working on the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon System, which is not expected to be fielded until 2025.
The Air Force announced this year it would scrap its Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon and pivot to experimenting with another hypersonic weapon.
The U.S. already hosts tens of thousands of troops in Europe and an array of conventional weapons.
Last year, Russia withdrew from the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, which established limits on the types of conventional weapons in Europe, leading the U.S. and NATO allies to suspend their involvement in the treaty.
The U.S. also has some 100 tactical B61 nuclear bombs in Europe, including Germany. Russia has moved tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus.