German Forces to Trial Ukrainian Missile With 1,000 km Reach

Germany will arm its troops with Ukrainian-developed Bars missiles for the first time, according to a Financial Times report citing sources familiar with the plans, relayed by European Pravda and Ukrainska Pravda. The German government is expected to sign a purchase agreement in the coming weeks for an initial batch. The Bundeswehr would run technical trials on the missiles early next year. A satisfactory result could lead to a buy of several hundred units.

The Bars is a jet-powered weapon that flies up to 1,000 km and carries up to 105 kg, depending on the version. Ukrainian officials sometimes call it a drone missile; Germany classifies it as a low-cost cruise missile. The purchase would be the first known procurement of Ukrainian-developed offensive weaponry for the Bundeswehr's own use.

Bars missiles have been produced in Germany in recent months by a joint Ukrainian-German company whose operations are not disclosed. The first German-made batch, paid for by Berlin, went to Ukraine in October. That joint venture will now build for Germany as well.

The deal sits inside a wider German push to build long-range strike capacity against Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called the Bars one of the weapons that struck military bases and energy sites inside Russia. Berlin also plans to buy and test a small number of Anthem cruise missiles from US startup Covenant. One source said the Bars costs less than the Anthem, and Germany is set to buy both. Plans to acquire the Ukrainian Flamingo cruise missile are on hold.

Germany's armed forces now field only the air-launched Taurus, which reaches about 500 km. A German plan to buy the BGM-109 Tomahawk and the Typhon ground launcher from Raytheon could slip by as much as five years. Media reports say Berlin expects to spend close to EUR 12 billion on a new long-range arsenal. Denmark announced a billion-dollar deal to buy high-precision long-range missiles for the first time.

The Bars carries up to 105 kg and reaches up to 1,000 km. Germany classifies it as a low-cost cruise missile, while Ukrainian officials sometimes call it a drone missile.