Berlin Prepares to Purchase 1,000 km Bars Missiles for Testing

The German government is preparing to purchase a batch of Bars missiles developed in Ukraine for its armed forces, according to a report by the Financial Times. Sources familiar with the plans indicated that officials expect to sign an agreement in the coming weeks. The Bundeswehr intends to use the initial delivery for technical trials scheduled for early next year. If the tests yield satisfactory results, the purchase may expand to include several hundred additional units.

The Bars is a jet-powered weapon with a range of up to 1,000 km. Depending on the specific modification, it carries a payload of up to 105 kg. While Ukrainian forces often refer to the system as a drone missile, German military officials classify it as a low-cost cruise missile. This acquisition represents the first known procurement of Ukrainian-developed offensive weaponry for the Bundeswehr's own operational needs.

Production of the Bars has recently shifted to Germany through a joint Ukrainian-German company. The operations of this venture remain largely private. In October, the first batch of missiles manufactured in Germany and paid for by the German government was delivered to Ukraine. The joint venture will now begin producing the weapon for Berlin's military use.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has described the Bars as one of the primary weapons used to strike military bases and energy facilities on Russian territory. The German move is part of a wider strategy to strengthen European deterrence against Moscow by building an arsenal of long-range strike weapons. Media reports indicate that the German government expects to spend nearly €12 billion on this new capability.

Berlin is also moving to acquire 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. One source noted that the Bars is cheaper than both, 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 km. The purchase of the BGM-109 Tomahawk and the Typhon ground-based launcher from US manufacturer Raytheon could be delayed by up to five years. Separately, Denmark recently announced a billion-dollar deal to buy high-precision long-range missiles for the first time in its history to bolster its security posture.