Bundeswehr Procurement: Berlin Moves on Ukrainian Bars Missiles

The German government is preparing to sign an agreement in the coming weeks to purchase a small initial batch of Bars missiles from Ukraine. According to sources cited by the Financial Times, this will mark the first time the Bundeswehr buys offensive weaponry developed by its ally for its own operational needs. The missiles are jet-powered with a range of up to 1,000 kilometers. Germany classifies the system as a low-cost cruise missile, while Ukrainian officials often refer to it as a drone missile.

The acquisition is the first step in a planned expansion. If technical trials are satisfactory, the German military intends to buy several hundred units. The Bundeswehr plans to conduct these tests in early 2027. The missiles have a payload capacity of up to 105 kilograms, depending on the specific modification. This move aligns with a wider German strategy to build a long-range strike arsenal to deter Russia.

Production of the Bars missiles has already begun in Germany through a joint Ukrainian-German company. Operations of this joint venture have been kept secret, but the first batch of German-made missiles was delivered to Ukraine in October. That initial shipment was paid for by Berlin. The joint venture will now begin producing units specifically for the German military.

German President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously described the Bars as one of the weapons used to strike military bases and energy facilities on Russian territory. The missile is not the only system under consideration. Berlin also plans to buy and test a small batch of Anthem cruise missiles from the US startup Covenant. The Anthem costs roughly one-tenth as much as a Tomahawk, which is priced between US$4 million and US$6 million.

Sources indicated that the Bars is cheaper than the Anthem, but Germany is ready to purchase both systems. Plans to acquire the Ukrainian Flamingo cruise missile have been postponed for now. Currently, the German armed forces rely on the air-launched Taurus cruise missile, which has a range of about 500 kilometers.

Other acquisitions face potential delays. The plan to buy BGM-109 Tomahawk missiles and Typhon ground-based launchers from US manufacturer Raytheon could be delayed by up to five years. Media reports suggest the German government expects to spend nearly €12 billion on a new arsenal of long-range weapons. Denmark recently announced a separate billion-dollar deal to buy high-precision long-range missiles for the first time in its history.

The German military currently uses only the Taurus for long-range strikes. The new procurement strategy aims to diversify this capability. The upcoming trials will determine if the Bars meets the technical standards required for a larger fleet. The first batch will serve as the primary data set for these evaluations.