First German-UK Defence Ministerial Council advances military co-operation

The UK MoD plans a minimum deployable self-propelled howitzer capability based on the RCH 155 by the end of the decade. (KNDS)

German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius and UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey discussed military co-operation between their two countries on 15 May during the first German-UK Defence Ministerial Council held in Berlin under the 23 October 2024 Trinity House Agreement on Defence Co-operation.

The two defence ministers agreed for work to begin on a new deep precision-strike capability, confirming for the first time that the system to be developed under the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA) work programme jointly led by Germany and the UK would have a range of 2,000 km. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on its website on 15 May that the capability would be among the most advanced systems designed by the United Kingdom to protect civilians and reinforce NATO deterrence, while boosting the UK and European defence sectors.

The ministers agreed on a strategic partnership in land systems and to continue co-operation on the Boxer armoured vehicle, with the British and German armies having signed a new bilateral vision statement to advance the programme. The UK's Medium Fires Platform project is currently in the assessment phase, with a minimum deployable capability based on the Boxer-mounted Remote Controlled Howitzer (RCH) 155 planned by the end of the decade. The British and German armies also agreed a statement of intent on bridging for Germany to buy general support bridges through an existing UK contract.