Germany Prepares to Buy 1,000 km Bars Missiles for 2027 Tests

German authorities are moving to finalize a purchase of Bars missiles developed in Ukraine, according to sources cited by the Financial Times. This acquisition marks the first time the Bundeswehr will contract for Ukrainian-developed offensive weaponry for its own use. The agreement is expected to be signed in the coming weeks, with technical trials scheduled to begin in early 2027.

The Bars is a jet-powered cruise missile with a range of up to 1,000 kilometers and a payload capacity of 105 kilograms. Ukrainian officials have referred to the system as a drone missile, while German military planners classify it as a low-cost cruise missile. If the upcoming trials produce satisfactory results, Berlin intends to expand the initial order to several hundred units.

Production of the Bars has already shifted to European soil. A joint Ukrainian-German company has been manufacturing the weapon in Germany for the past few months. The first batch of these German-made missiles, funded by Berlin, was delivered to Ukraine in October. This joint venture will now supply the Bundeswehr directly, establishing a new supply chain for European defense.

This procurement fits into a larger German strategy to build a long-range strike arsenal aimed at deterring Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has noted that Bars missiles have been used to target military bases and energy facilities within Russian territory. Currently, the German armed forces rely solely on the air-launched Taurus cruise missile, which has a range of approximately 500 kilometers.

Berlin is also planning to test a small batch of Anthem cruise missiles from US startup Covenant. The Anthem is priced at roughly one-tenth of a Tomahawk, which costs between 4 million and 6 million US dollars. One source indicated the Bars is even cheaper than the Anthem, but Germany intends to buy both systems. Plans to acquire the Ukrainian Flamingo cruise missile have been postponed for the time being.

The broader acquisition of long-range weapons faces timing challenges. Germany’s plan to purchase BGM-109 Tomahawks and Typhon ground-based launchers from Raytheon could be delayed by up to five years. To bridge the gap, media reports indicate the German government expects to spend nearly 12 billion euros on the new long-range arsenal. Denmark has recently announced a similar billion-dollar deal for high-precision long-range missiles, signaling a coordinated shift in European defense spending.