The destroyer USS Benfold launches a Standard Missile 6 during an exercise in 2022 in the Philippine Sea. Germany is seeking to buy 173 Standard Missile 6 Block I missiles from the U.S. ( Arthur Rosen/U.S. Navy)
The U.S. greenlighted the multibillion-dollar sale of seaborne air and missile defense equipment to Germany, the latest major weapons acquisition for a country in the midst of its largest military buildup in decades.
The State Department on Friday approved the estimated $3.5 billion deal, which involves a collection of American-made guided missiles expected to play a key role in Germany’s naval modernization efforts.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” the department said in a statement.
Germany is seeking to buy up to 173 Standard Missile 6 Block I missiles and up to 577 Standard Missile 2 Block IIIC missiles along with a wide range of supporting equipment.
Earlier this year, Germany said it would meet President Donald Trump’s call for all NATO members to dedicate 5% of their respective gross domestic product to defense spending by 2035.
That commitment builds on a German military resurgence effort announced in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. For years, Germany had been a notable laggard in defense spending among NATO members.
The integrated air and missile defense capabilities will be part of Berlin’s future Aegis Weapon System-equipped F127 class surface combatant ships.
The State Department approved Germany’s request for a $3.5 billion purchase of SM-6 Block I and SM-2 Block IIIC missiles and related equipment for the German navy’s future F127 frigates, seen here in a concept from Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems. (Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems)
It will bolster Germany’s capacity “to present a credible deterrence to regional strategic competitors,” the State Department said, adding that the proposed sale will also improve Germany’s ability to operate alongside U.S. and allied naval forces.
The deal needs final approval from Congress, which is typically a formality.
Berlin’s support for ramping up defense spending is also driven by concerns about potential Russian aggression in Europe and a desire to be less dependent on the United States.
In May, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that he aimed for the transformation of Germany’s army, known as the Bundeswehr, into the strongest conventional force in Europe.
However, the German military is still struggling to attract recruits. To address the problem, Merz’s government agreed on Thursday to a new military service program.
It will require all 18-year-old men to fill out a questionnaire on their suitability to serve and by 2027 undergo a related medical screening to assess their fitness to serve.
Should Berlin not meet future recruiting targets, a form of compulsory enlistment could then be considered.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said last week that the country’s armed forces have been unfairly maligned over the years.
“We are much better than our reputation,” Pistorius said in a German radio interview, as cited by Deutsche Welle on Wednesday. The Bundeswehr is “in a really good place; we are growing up.”
