Germany Prepares to Buy Ukrainian Bars Missiles for Bundeswehr Testing
Germany is preparing to agree on the purchase of an initial batch of Ukrainian Bars cruise missiles for Bundeswehr testing, according to reports. Technical trials are planned for early next year, and satisfactory results could lead to an order for several hundred missiles.
Key points
- German officials expect to agree on the purchase of an initial batch of Bars missiles for Bundeswehr testing in the coming weeks.
- Technical tests of the first batch in Germany are planned for early next year.
- Successful trials could open the way for an order for several hundred Bars missiles.
- Bars is a jet-powered cruise missile with a range of up to 1,000 kilometres and a payload of up to 105 kilograms, depending on the variant.
- A Ukrainian-German joint venture has been producing Bars in Germany under the Build with Ukraine programme.
- Germany also plans to test a small batch of American Anthem missiles, while a possible purchase of Ukraine's Flamingo has been postponed.
- The new German long-range arsenal intended to deter Russia is expected to cost nearly €12 billion.
Why it matters
The planned purchase would be the first known acquisition by the Bundeswehr of offensive weapons developed in Ukraine for its own use. It also directly links Germany's effort to expand its long-range strike capabilities with Ukrainian defence production and the Build with Ukraine programme's goal of opening NATO markets to Ukrainian manufacturers. Successful trials could lead to a much larger order and deeper integration of Ukrainian and German production.
What happened
Germany is preparing to purchase an initial batch of Ukrainian Bars cruise missiles for testing by the Bundeswehr. According to reports, the government expects to conclude the agreement in the coming weeks, with technical trials planned for early next year. Bars has a reported range of up to 1,000 kilometres and a payload of up to 105 kilograms, depending on the modification. The missiles are being produced in Germany by a Ukrainian-German joint venture established under the Build with Ukraine programme. Its first German-funded batch was transferred to Ukraine in October, and the venture is also expected to produce Bars for Germany. Successful tests could open the way for an order for several hundred missiles.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage presents Bars as homegrown technology already used against Russian military bases and energy facilities. It also highlights the joint production arrangement in Germany, the system's extensive operational experience and comparatively low cost, and the prospect of Ukrainian-designed offensive weapons entering the Bundeswehr's inventory. The acquisition is framed as a potential step in the Build with Ukraine programme's transition from producing weapons for Ukraine to opening NATO markets for Ukrainian manufacturers.
How international sources describe it
The international framing focuses on Germany expanding its long-range strike inventory and comparing cheaper systems such as Bars and Anthem with high-tech Tomahawk missiles. Bars and Anthem are presented as systems capable of enabling numerous strikes at depths of roughly 1,500 kilometres and overwhelming air defences, while more expensive weapons remain intended for strategic targets. The prospective Bars purchase is also framed as a possible first known Bundeswehr acquisition of offensive weapons designed in Ukraine.
Background
Bars is a jet-powered cruise missile with a reported range of up to 1,000 kilometres and a payload of up to 105 kilograms, depending on the variant. It is sometimes called a missile-drone in Ukraine and is described in Germany as an inexpensive cruise missile. The Ukrainian-German joint venture behind its German production was created under the Build with Ukraine programme, whose stated long-term goal is to open NATO markets to Ukrainian manufacturers. Germany is pursuing a five-year €780 billion rearmament programme and estimates that a new long-range arsenal intended to deter Russia will cost nearly €12 billion. It has also signed a preliminary agreement for Raytheon Tomahawk cruise missiles, plans to test a small batch of American Anthem missiles, and has postponed a possible purchase of Ukraine's Flamingo.