NATO Urged to Expand Long-Range Missile Capabilities Amid Rising Russian Threat, Says US General
NATO must urgently scale up its arsenal of long-range missiles to counter Russia’s growing military capacity, according to Major General John Rafferty of the US Army. In an interview with Reuters, Rafferty warned that Moscow is ramping up production of long-range weapons and air defenses, posing a significant challenge to European security.
“The Russian army is bigger today than when the war in Ukraine began,” said Rafferty, who recently served as commander of the US Army’s 56th Artillery Command in Germany. “They are investing in long-range rockets and sophisticated air defense systems. To deter that, NATO needs enhanced capabilities.”
Russia’s use of long-range missiles in Ukraine has shown their tactical value in striking deep targets such as command centers and logistics hubs. The conflict has also exposed NATO’s heavy dependence on the US for long-range firepower. Currently, American systems make up an estimated 90% of the alliance’s long-range strike capacity.
Plans are underway for the US to temporarily deploy long-range systems, including Tomahawk cruise missiles and the hypersonic Dark Eagle, to Europe from 2026. However, Germany is seeking clarity on whether the deployments, originally agreed under President Joe Biden, will proceed under the Trump administration. Russian officials have condemned these moves as direct threats to national security.
Meanwhile, European NATO members are stepping up defense investment. Several countries—including France, Germany, the UK, Italy, Sweden, and Poland—are collaborating on the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA), a joint initiative to develop ground-launched missiles capable of reaching over 2,000 km. Britain and Germany recently committed to jointly begin missile development under the program.
Despite some existing capabilities—such as the UK’s Storm Shadow, France’s Scalp, and Germany’s Taurus cruise missiles—Europe’s current stockpile of long-range systems remains limited in number and range. Experts like Oslo University’s Fabian Hoffmann caution that being without such weapons in early-stage conflict, as Ukraine experienced, places nations at a critical disadvantage.
The push for expanded missile deterrence comes amid broader debates over NATO’s future posture and preparedness in the face of renewed Russian assertiveness.
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