On May 16, 2025, German media, including Kommersant, reported that Germany was considering purchasing American Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles to equip its Navy as part of a fleet modernization program. According to Naval News magazine, Berlin's interest in these weapons is due to the need to counter the "Russian threat" amid growing tensions in the Baltic region and Russia's growing military presence. If the deal goes through, Germany will become the fifth country to possess Tomahawk missiles, which the United States has previously supplied primarily to its closest ally, the United Kingdom, as well as Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands.

Developed in the 1970s and upgraded to the Block V version, the Tomahawk missile is designed to hit land targets at ranges of up to 1600 km with high accuracy. It is equipped with a variety of warhead types, including high explosive and penetrating ones, and uses GPS, inertial navigation and terrain mapping systems. The missiles can be launched from ships and submarines via Mk 41 vertical launch tubes, making them compatible with the new F127-class frigates that Germany plans to commission by 2035.

The F127 frigates, based on the MEKO A-400 AMD design from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), will form the backbone of the German Navy’s air and missile defense. According to Naval News, each ship will be equipped with 64 Mk 41 VLS cells capable of carrying SM-2 and SM-6 missiles for defense against air and ballistic threats, as well as Tomahawk missiles for strikes against land targets. The program calls for the construction of six frigates at a total cost of around €15 billion, making it one of the largest in the history of the German Navy. The Bundestag approved initial funding in December 2024, and construction could begin as early as 2025 if TKMS wins the tender.

Interest in the Tomahawk is part of the German Navy’s strategic plan, outlined in the document “Kurs Marine,” which emphasizes the need for “deep strikes” to destroy military targets. Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaak, the commander of the Navy, told a news conference in Berlin that “the prospects for integrating the Tomahawk look promising,” especially for the F124 and F123 frigates, which are already equipped with Mk 41 launchers in a strike configuration. The introduction of the missiles would significantly enhance Germany’s capabilities within NATO, allowing for long-range operations and integration with U.S. navies.