Germany Negotiates Purchase of Thousands of Long-Range Missiles Made in Europe

In brief

• Germany is negotiating to buy thousands of precision long-range missiles from several European and allied producers.
• Talks include a contract with US start-up Covenant worth over 1 billion euros for Anthem cruise missiles.
• Berlin is also discussing joint production and purchase of the Ukrainian Bars cruise missile.
• The move follows delays in US Tomahawk deliveries, which could take up to five years.

Talks with several suppliers

Germany is negotiating to buy thousands of precision long-range missiles from several European producers, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the talks (Германия обсуждает с Украиной закупку и совместное производство ракет Барс — Bloomberg – NV) (Niemcy negocjują zakup tysięcy rakiet produkowanych w Europie – Puls Biznesu) (Німеччина хоче закупити тисячі ракет у виробників з Європи та України – ЗМІ – Українська правда). The aim is to rebuild a stockpile that the Bundeswehr currently lacks and to strengthen Berlin's ability to deter Russia (Tysiące pocisków dla sąsiada Polski. Szykują się wielkie zakupy, by odstraszyć Rosję – businessinsider.com.pl).

Options under discussion

The German Defence Ministry is discussing a contract with the US defence start-up Covenant worth more than 1 billion euros for thousands of heavy, ground-launched Anthem cruise missiles (Альтернатива "Томагавкам" для Німеччини: Берлін планує закупити тисячі далекобійних ракет і домовляється з Україною – TSN). Covenant has not disclosed the full specifications of the weapon; sources cited by Bloomberg put its range above 2,000 kilometres. Other candidates include the Dutch company Destinus, which makes the Ruta cruise missile, and the German-British start-up Hypersonica, which is developing the HS1 hypersonic missile.

Ukrainian cruise missile on the table

Berlin is also discussing joint production and purchase of the Ukrainian cruise missile Bars with Kyiv. The manufacturer of the Bars has not been named.

Why Germany is looking elsewhere

The search for alternatives follows delays in the delivery of US Tomahawk cruise missiles and Typhon launchers from Raytheon. Sources told Bloomberg that waiting for those systems could take up to five years. Germany is at the back of the queue for Tomahawks. Currently the Bundeswehr operates only the air-launched Taurus cruise missile, with a range of about 500 kilometres. It is built by MBDA and Saab.

Cost-saving logic

Officials are also looking at cheaper missiles in large numbers. The idea is to overwhelm an adversary's air defences so that enough weapons reach their targets.