{"id":68628,"date":"2024-10-22T21:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-22T21:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2024\/10\/22\/germany-uk-to-sign-pact-on-long-range-weapons-sweeping-defense-ties\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T01:14:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T01:14:02","slug":"germany-uk-to-sign-pact-on-long-range-weapons-sweeping-defense-ties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/europe\/2024\/10\/22\/germany-uk-to-sign-pact-on-long-range-weapons-sweeping-defense-ties\/","title":{"rendered":"Germany, UK to sign pact on long-range weapons, sweeping defense ties"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

COLOGNE, Germany \u2014 The defense ministers of Germany and the U.K. plan to sign a new defense agreement on Wednesday that will see the two countries develop new long-range strike weapons, prioritize securing NATO\u2019s eastern flank and field a new class of drones for accompanying their battle tank formations, according to separate statements from the two governments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Called the Trinity House Agreement, the pact amounts to a comprehensive reboot of defense relations between London and Berlin that had lacked structure since Britain formally exited the European Union in early 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The jam-packed agenda touches all military domains \u2013 air, land, sea, and cyber \u2013 showcasing Rheinmetall as a linchpin of industrial cooperation for land forces, and MBDA, with its Storm Shadow cruise missile, as the nucleus for a future, joint long-range strike weapon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stationing long-range missiles in Europe, including from the United States, has become a key pillar in NATO plans to deter Russian aggression against the continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the new plan, German defense contractor Rheinmetall<\/a> and its British subsidiary will open a factory for making artillery gun barrels using locally made steel, re-establishing a capability given up by the British a decade a ago, according to the U.K. Ministry of Defence statement. The first barrels are slated to roll off the production line in 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\t