1,000 km: The reach of Germany's first Ukrainian missile deal

Germany is set to purchase its first batch of Ukrainian-made offensive missiles.

The move involves the Bars, a jet-powered weapon capable of striking targets up to 1,000 kilometers away. According to a Financial Times report cited by European and Ukrainian media, the German government intends to sign an agreement for an initial batch within weeks. The Bundeswehr will use these units for technical trials in early 2027. If the tests yield positive results, Berlin could expand the purchase to several hundred units. The missile carries a payload of up to 105 kg, though the exact weight varies by modification. While Ukrainian forces often refer to it as a drone missile, Germany classifies the Bars as a low-cost cruise missile.

The procurement is part of a strategic effort to bolster European deterrence against Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has identified the Bars as a key weapon used to strike military bases and energy infrastructure on Russian soil. Production is already underway in Germany through a joint Ukrainian-German venture. This company, which operates with a degree of secrecy, delivered the first batch of German-produced missiles to Ukraine in October. Those units were paid for by Berlin. The joint venture will now produce missiles for the German military, marking the first known instance of the Bundeswehr buying Ukrainian-developed offensive weapons for its own use.

Berlin is not limiting its long-range arsenal to Ukrainian hardware. The government plans to buy and test a small batch of Anthem cruise missiles from the US startup Covenant. The Anthem is significantly cheaper than the US-made Tomahawk, which costs between $4 million and $6 million. One source indicated that the Bars is even more affordable, but Germany intends to acquire both systems. Conversely, plans to acquire the Ukrainian Flamingo cruise missile have been postponed for the time being.

Currently, the German armed forces rely solely on the air-launched Taurus cruise missile, which has a range of approximately 500 kilometers. Germany has also planned to purchase the BGM-109 Tomahawk and the Typhon ground-based launcher from Raytheon, but those deliveries could be delayed by as much as five years. Media reports suggest the German government expects to spend nearly €12 billion on this new arsenal of long-range weapons.

The timing aligns with other European defense initiatives. Denmark recently announced a billion-dollar deal to buy high-precision long-range missiles for the first time in its history. Both nations are moving to secure new strike capabilities as they seek to strengthen their security postures.