German Army to Test Ukrainian Bars Missiles in Early 2027

Germany is set to acquire Ukrainian-developed Bars missiles for the first time, a move that marks a shift in the Bundeswehr's offensive capabilities. According to sources cited by the Financial Times, the German government expects to sign an agreement for an initial batch within the coming weeks. The military will use these weapons for technical trials in the first half of 2027. If the results meet expectations, Berlin could expand the purchase to several hundred units.

The Bars is a jet-powered missile with a maximum range of 1,000 km and a payload capacity of up to 105 kg. While Ukrainian officials often refer to the system as a drone missile, Germany classifies it as a low-cost cruise missile. The acquisition is part of a wider German effort to build a long-range strike arsenal to strengthen European deterrence against Moscow. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously described the Bars as a key weapon used to strike military bases and energy facilities on Russian soil.

Production of the missiles in Germany has already begun through a joint Ukrainian-German company that operates under high levels of secrecy. The first batch of German-made missiles, funded by the German side, was delivered to Ukraine in October 2026. The joint venture will now produce weapons for German use, representing the first known procurement of Ukrainian-developed offensive weaponry for the Bundeswehr's own needs.

Berlin is also preparing to buy and test a small batch of Anthem cruise missiles from US startup Covenant. The Anthem costs approximately one-tenth of the US$4 million to US$6 million price tag of a Tomahawk missile. One source noted that the Bars is even cheaper, but Germany intends to purchase both systems. Plans to acquire the Ukrainian Flamingo cruise missile have been postponed for the time being.

Currently, the German armed forces rely solely on the air-launched Taurus cruise missile, which has a range of about 500 km. Germany's plans to buy the BGM-109 Tomahawk and Typhon ground-based launcher from Raytheon could face delays of up to five years. Media reports indicate that the German government expects to spend nearly €12 billion on this new long-range arsenal. Denmark also recently announced a billion-dollar deal to buy high-precision long-range missiles, its first such acquisition in history.