Germany to test Ukrainian-made missiles soon

The German government is set to sign an agreement in the coming weeks to purchase Ukrainian-developed Bars missiles. The Bundeswehr will use these weapons for technical trials early next year. This marks the first time Germany is buying Ukrainian offensive weaponry for its own military needs.

The Bars is a jet-powered missile with a range of up to 1,000 km. Its payload capacity reaches 105 kg, depending on the specific modification. While Ukrainian officials often refer to it as a drone missile, Germany classifies the system as a low-cost cruise missile.

Sources familiar with the plans told the Financial Times that the initial purchase will be for a small batch. If the technical trials yield satisfactory results, the purchase could expand to several hundred units. A joint Ukrainian-German company has been producing these missiles in Germany since recent months. The first batch of German-made missiles, funded by Berlin, was delivered to Ukraine in October.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described the Bars as a key tool for striking military bases and energy facilities on Russian territory. The acquisition fits into a wider German strategy to build an arsenal of long-range strike weapons. Berlin aims to strengthen European deterrence against Moscow through this buildup.

Germany is also preparing to test a small batch of Anthem cruise missiles made by US startup Covenant. The Anthem costs roughly one-tenth as much as a Tomahawk, which is priced between US$4 million and US$6 million. One source indicated that the Bars is even cheaper than the Anthem. Germany intends to buy both systems despite the price differences.

Currently, the German armed forces rely solely on the air-launched Taurus cruise missile, which has a range of about 500 km. Plans to acquire the BGM-109 Tomahawk and the Typhon ground-based launcher from Raytheon could face delays of up to five years. The acquisition of the Ukrainian Flamingo cruise missile has been postponed for now.

Media reports indicate the German government expects to spend nearly €12 billion on this new long-range arsenal. Denmark recently announced a billion-dollar deal to buy high-precision long-range missiles. This is the first time in Danish history that such a purchase has been made.