German Army to Test Ukrainian Bars

The German government is preparing to sign a contract for the first batch of Ukrainian-developed Bars missiles. This marks the first time the Bundeswehr will procure offensive strike weapons designed in Ukraine.

Sources familiar with the plans told the Financial Times that the agreement is expected within weeks. The military intends to use the missiles for technical trials in early 2027. If the tests yield satisfactory results, Berlin could expand the order to several hundred units.

The Bars is a jet-powered cruise missile with a range of up to 1,000 km. It carries a payload of up to 105 kg depending on the specific model. While Ukrainian forces often refer to it as a drone missile, Germany classifies it as a low-cost cruise missile.

A joint Ukrainian-German company has begun producing these missiles in Germany. The first batch of German-made missiles was delivered to Ukraine in October. Those units were paid for by the German side. The venture will now produce additional units for the German armed forces.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, has noted that the Bars has been used to strike military bases and energy facilities inside Russian territory. The purchase fits into a wider German effort to build a long-range strike arsenal to deter Moscow.

Berlin also plans to test a small batch of Anthem cruise missiles from the US startup Covenant. The Anthem costs about one-tenth as much as a Tomahawk. One source indicated the Bars is cheaper still, but Germany intends to buy both systems. Plans to acquire the Flamingo cruise missile have been postponed.

Currently, the German armed forces rely on the air-launched Taurus cruise missile, which has a range of about 500 km. Delays in acquiring Raytheon's Tomahawk and Typhon systems could extend to five years. Media reports suggest the German government expects to spend nearly 12 billion euros on new long-range weapons. Denmark recently announced a billion-dollar deal for similar high-precision missiles.