Germany Seeks Thousands of Long-Range Missiles Amid Tomahawk Delays
Germany is negotiating purchases of thousands of long-range precision missiles and exploring joint production with Ukraine as it seeks to expand its long-range arsenal. The talks come amid delays in receiving American Tomahawk missiles, with potential contracts involving European and US defense companies.
Key points
- Germany is discussing the purchase of thousands of European-made long-range precision missiles.
- German defense officials are negotiating with Ukraine on joint production and purchases of the Ukrainian cruise missile Bars.
- Germany is discussing a contract worth more than €1 billion with US defense startup Covenant for thousands of ground-launched Anthem missiles.
- Anthem has a reported range of more than 2,000 kilometers.
- Covenant expects its first missiles at its Leipzig plant in early 2027 and plans to reach annual production of 5,000 missiles by 2028.
- Germany estimates that creating a new long-range weapons arsenal for deterring Russia will cost nearly €12 billion.
- The planned acquisition of large quantities of relatively cheaper missiles is intended to overwhelm enemy air defenses and improve the likelihood of striking targets.
Why it matters
The proposed purchases could significantly expand Germany's long-range strike capabilities and its ability to deter Russia. The negotiations also link German procurement with Ukrainian missile production and European and American defense companies. Delays in Tomahawk deliveries may be increasing Berlin's interest in alternative suppliers and in European or Ukrainian systems.
What happened
Germany is seeking to build a new long-range weapons arsenal after delays in receiving American Tomahawk missiles. Its defense ministry is holding talks with Ukraine about jointly producing and purchasing the Ukrainian cruise missile Bars; the manufacturer of Bars has not been disclosed. Germany is also negotiating with US startup Covenant on a potential contract worth more than €1 billion for thousands of ground-launched Anthem cruise missiles, whose reported range exceeds 2,000 kilometers. Destinus SA and the German-British startup Hypersonica are identified as potential suppliers of European alternatives, with Hypersonica developing the HS1 supersonic missile. The acquisition plan is intended both to strengthen Germany’s defensive capabilities and to help deter Russia.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian media emphasize Germany’s talks with Ukraine over joint production and purchases of the Bars missile, noting that its manufacturer remains undisclosed. The coverage presents Germany’s procurement effort as an opportunity to strengthen Europe’s and Ukraine’s missile-production cooperation while expanding German defensive capabilities.
How international sources describe it
The reporting frames Germany’s procurement effort as part of a wider European and transatlantic effort to expand long-range missile stocks, partly in response to delays in receiving Tomahawk missiles. Potential contracts with US and European defense companies could provide alternative systems, while large-volume purchases are intended to overwhelm air defenses and improve strike effectiveness.
Background
Germany’s armed forces currently have only the air-launched Taurus cruise missile, whose range is about 500 kilometers. The government estimates that creating a new long-range weapons arsenal for deterring Russia will cost nearly €12 billion, but it has not disclosed an official delivery schedule for Tomahawk missiles. Denmark has also announced a multibillion-euro agreement to acquire high-precision long-range missiles.