Germany Signs Contract for Ukrainian Bars Missiles

The German government is moving to finalize a contract for the purchase of Ukrainian-made Bars missiles. Sources familiar with the negotiations indicate that an agreement will be signed within weeks. This marks the first time the Bundeswehr will acquire offensive weapons developed by Ukraine.

The initial procurement is intended for technical trials scheduled for early 2027. If the tests meet performance standards, Berlin plans to expand the order to several hundred units. The Bars is a jet-powered cruise missile with a maximum range of 1,000 km. Depending on the specific model, it carries a payload of up to 105 kg.

German officials classify the system as a low-cost cruise missile, a category that distinguishes it from the current German standard. The Bundeswehr currently relies on the air-launched Taurus, which has a range of approximately 500 km. The addition of the Bars would double the reach of Germany's long-range strike capabilities.

Production of the Bars has already begun in Germany through a joint Ukrainian-German enterprise. This company, which operates with a high degree of secrecy, delivered the first batch of German-manufactured missiles to Ukraine in October. That initial shipment was funded by the German side. The joint venture will now begin producing units for the German military's own inventory.

The purchase fits into a larger strategy to build a European deterrence force against Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has noted that Bars missiles have been used to strike military bases and energy infrastructure inside Russian territory. Berlin aims to diversify its arsenal beyond current options, which include the US-made Tomahawk and Typhon systems. Delays in acquiring those Raytheon products could extend up to five years.

Berlin is also evaluating the Anthem, a cruise missile from US startup Covenant. The Anthem costs about one-tenth the price of a Tomahawk, which ranges from US$4 million to US$6 million. One source stated that the Bars is even less expensive. Germany intends to buy both systems. Plans to acquire the Ukrainian Flamingo missile have been put on hold for the time being.

German media report that the government expects to spend nearly €12 billion on this new long-range weapons arsenal. This spending aligns with recent moves by other European nations. Denmark recently announced a billion-dollar agreement to purchase high-precision long-range missiles, marking its first such buy in history.