> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.adriadefense.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Germany Plans Low-Cost Cruise Missiles With 1,500 km Reach - URL: https://www.adriadefense.com/germany-plans-low-cost-cruise-missiles-with-1-500-km-reach/ - Published: 2026-10-10T10:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-10T09:59:59.000Z - Description: Germany plans to equip its army with low-cost cruise missiles capable of striking targets up to 1,500 km away, with initial deliveries possible in 2027. - Author: AdriaDefense Desk - Tags: Germany, CEE, Bundeswehr, Defense Industry, Industry, Defense procurement, Missiles Germany plans to equip its army with low-cost cruise missiles capable of striking targets at distances of approximately 1,500 kilometers, with initial deliveries potentially beginning in 2027. Lieutenant General Christian Freuding, Inspector of the German Army, confirmed that a decision to procure the weapons has been made, according to remarks delivered at a parliamentary event organized by the Förderkreis Deutsches Heer in Berlin and reported by German news agency dpa on October 9. The proposed acquisition would give Germany a new class of long-range strike weapons designed for deployment in large numbers alongside more expensive precision-guided missiles. ## German Army Evaluating Two Cruise Missile Systems Freuding said the Bundeswehr is concentrating on two commercially available systems. Neither has yet completed the qualification process required for introduction into German military service. He did not identify the manufacturers or provide procurement quantities, contract values or a confirmed delivery schedule. The army aims to receive its first missiles from 2027, provided the selected system meets German military requirements. According to Freuding's remarks, the new weapons would allow German ground forces to conduct strikes at depths of approximately 1,500 kilometers while overwhelming opposing air defense systems through the number of missiles employed. The approach would combine relatively inexpensive missiles deployed in larger quantities with higher-value precision weapons reserved for strategically important targets. The announcement is distinct from Germany's planned acquisition of US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles and the associated Typhon ground-launch system. In July, the Bundeswehr [confirmed its interest in acquiring Tomahawk missiles and Typhon launchers](https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/meldungen/bundeswehr-interesse-us-system-typhon-5977014?ref=adriadefense.com), following an initial positive response from Washington. That procurement remains subject to the necessary German approval procedures. Freuding indicated that the combination of affordable missiles and more sophisticated long-range weapons should form part of the army's future strike capability. ## Covenant Opens German Missile Factory as Procurement Plans Advance The announcement comes days after US defense company Covenant inaugurated a cruise missile production facility in Leipzig on October 5. The company plans to begin manufacturing its Anthem cruise missile there in 2027, initially targeting 1,000 units annually before expanding production to 5,000 in 2028. Covenant has indicated that Anthem will cost a six-figure amount per missile, substantially below the multimillion-dollar prices associated with some established long-range precision weapons. The company has previously disclosed an initial European customer but has not publicly identified the buyer. [AdriaDefense reported in September on Covenant's German production plans](https://www.adriadefense.com/covenant-to-build-anthem-cruise-missiles-in-germany/) and the company's ambitions to establish a European manufacturing base for long-range strike weapons. The proximity between Freuding's announcement and Covenant's factory opening is notable, but it does not establish a procurement relationship. Freuding has not identified Anthem as one of the two systems under evaluation, and no Bundeswehr contract with Covenant has been announced. The company's production targets also remain dependent on the successful establishment and scaling of manufacturing operations. ## Germany Expands Its Long-Range Strike Programs The planned low-cost missile acquisition adds another element to Germany's broader effort to expand its deep precision strike capabilities. Berlin is pursuing several parallel programs, including the potential acquisition of US Tomahawk missiles, modernization of the existing Taurus cruise missile inventory and development of the Taurus Neo. Germany is also participating in the European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA), a multinational initiative intended to develop European long-range strike capabilities. The Bundeswehr has acknowledged that some European development programs will require several more years before entering service, creating an incentive to acquire available systems in the interim. In a [September assessment of deep precision strike capabilities](https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/meldungen/deep-precision-strike-6063114?ref=adriadefense.com), the Bundeswehr described long-range weapons as central to its plans for striking military infrastructure, command facilities and other targets beyond the immediate battlefield. The economics of missile warfare have also become a growing procurement consideration. As [AdriaDefense previously examined](https://www.adriadefense.com/affordable-mass-the-companies-competing-to-rebuild-europes-missile-arsenal/), European manufacturers and newer defense technology companies are pursuing less expensive precision weapons that can be produced in substantially larger quantities than traditional cruise missiles. Freuding's announcement establishes a procurement direction for the German Army, but important details remain unresolved. The Bundeswehr has not disclosed which two systems it is evaluating, how many missiles it intends to purchase or how much funding has been allocated. Whether the first weapons enter service in 2027 will depend on qualification, procurement approvals and manufacturing readiness. --- ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is Germany buying new cruise missiles? The German Army has decided to pursue the procurement of low-cost cruise missiles, according to Lieutenant General Christian Freuding. No specific manufacturer, contract or order quantity has been publicly confirmed. ### What range will Germany's new cruise missiles have? The planned operational capability is approximately 1,500 kilometers. The exact specifications will depend on which system the Bundeswehr selects. ### Will Covenant supply the German Army? Covenant is establishing production of its Anthem cruise missile in Leipzig, but Germany has not confirmed the company as a supplier under the new procurement plan. ### When will Germany receive the missiles? The army is targeting initial deliveries from 2027\. Both systems under consideration still require qualification for Bundeswehr service.