The United Kingdom is leading a cooperative program with around 12 European and NATO countries to develop a next-generation long-range missile system called Deep Precision Strike [1, 2, 3]. Announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the NATO summit in Ankara on August 8, 2026, the program aims to create advanced precision strike weapons with ranges starting at 300 kilometers and some missile variants reaching beyond 2,000 kilometers [1, 2, 3].
NATO allies are expected to invest roughly $50 billion, approximately £37 billion, over the next decade into the program [1, 2, 3]. The UK alone has committed £3 billion by 2030 under its Defence Investment Plan to develop its deep precision strike capabilities [2, 3].
Key projects include UK-Germany collaboration on stealth and hypersonic missiles, expected to enter service in the 2030s, and a joint effort with France and Italy on the Stratus missile series, meant to succeed the Storm Shadow cruise missile [2, 3]. The initial focus will be on ground-launched missile systems, with plans for future air- and sea-launched variants [2, 3].
The UK Ministry of Defence also plans to purchase the American Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) to integrate with its multiple launch rocket systems, with first deliveries anticipated in 2027 [3].
Starmer emphasized NATO unity amid ongoing conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war and US-Iran tensions, stating the initiative “would bring allies together to develop the capabilities needed to safeguard the alliance in the decades ahead.” He called for a “stronger, more European NATO” and highlighted the UK’s heavy investment in advanced long-range weapons [1, 2].
The program’s formal announcement during the NATO summit in Ankara marks the start of efforts to deploy enhanced missile capabilities over the next decade. The UK’s procurement of US precision strike missiles is expected to begin in 2027, with stealth and hypersonic missiles from UK-Germany collaborations entering service in the 2030s [2, 3].
