Key facts
- Germany is exploring acquiring long-range cruise missiles from Israeli and Ukrainian companies.
- The German defense ministry is interested in options from Ukraine's Fire Point and Israel's Covenant.
- This initiative aims to bolster Germany's long-range strike capabilities to deter Russia.
- A U.S. plan to deploy long-range missiles to Germany was halted, prompting Berlin to seek alternatives.
- Germany is also pursuing its own purchase of U.S. Tomahawk missiles, but faces delays.
- Ukrainian missiles like the FP-5 Flamingo are being considered due to their lower cost and range.
Germany is actively seeking to acquire long-range cruise missiles from both Israel and Ukraine to bolster its defense capabilities and deter potential Russian aggression. This strategic shift comes after a significant setback involving U.S. missile deployments and efforts to purchase American-made Tomahawk missiles have faced delays.
The German defense ministry's arms directorate is reportedly interested in options from smaller, innovative companies, including Ukraine's Fire Point and the Israeli-American firm Covenant. This outreach highlights Ukraine's advancing defense industry and marks a potential first for a major European defense contract involving Ukrainian companies.
Germany's defense planning outlines a multi-pronged approach to developing its deep-strike capabilities. This includes plans to acquire U.S.-made Typhon launchers, purchase low-cost cruise missiles, and engage in longer-term European development projects with Britain for high-end and hypersonic missiles. The current strategy aims for initial capabilities from these tracks between 2027 and 2035.
The urgency for Germany to secure its own long-range firepower stems from the disruption of a planned U.S. deployment of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Germany. This deployment was reportedly halted following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision. Additionally, U.S. Tomahawk missile stocks have been depleted due to recent conflicts, further complicating Germany's attempts to procure them.
Covenant, a relatively new firm founded in 2024, plans to establish a European supply ecosystem and production lines in Germany and the UK. Its missile system, Anthem, is slated for testing soon, with German defense officials invited to observe. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Fire Point is offering its FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile, which boasts a 3,000-kilometer range and has been used against targets within Russia. These Ukrainian missiles are significantly cheaper than Tomahawks, costing around $500,000 each, making them attractive for sustained use.
Despite the potential, hurdles remain, including export restrictions on the Flamingo missile that would need to be legally and politically cleared. German defense officials are studying a layered deep-strike arsenal, which also includes upgrading existing Taurus missiles and developing future high-end and hypersonic systems with Britain.