Rheinmetall Conducts Operational Testing of FV-014 Loitering Munition for NATO Customer

Rheinmetall has carried out a live demonstration of its FV-014 loitering munition system at the National Test Centre for Unmanned Aerial Systems operated by the German Aerospace Centre in Cochstedt, Germany. The event, held on 18 February 2026, was conducted for a prospective NATO customer, according to the company.

The demonstration included multiple mission scenarios, incorporating reconnaissance phases and simulated strike profiles. Rheinmetall indicated that the trials were intended to validate flight performance, target engagement procedures, and system reliability in representative operational conditions.

System Profile and Performance Parameters

The FV-014 is designed as a combined reconnaissance and strike loitering munition capable of operating beyond line of sight. According to the manufacturer, the system offers a range of up to 100 kilometers and an endurance of approximately 70 minutes.

The munition has a launch weight of roughly 20 kilograms and carries a payload of about 6 kilograms. Its warhead, weighing around 5 kilograms, is described as a high-explosive dual-purpose configuration. Rheinmetall reports that the warhead is designed to penetrate more than 600 millimeters of rolled homogeneous armor, while also maintaining effectiveness against lightly protected and infrastructure targets.

The system is container-launched using a booster before transitioning to aerodynamic flight via deployable wings. Rheinmetall states that the FV-014 can be integrated into ground-based launcher platforms and potentially adapted for deployment from other domains.

Human-in-the-Loop and Electronic Resilience

The FV-014 operates with continuous human-in-the-loop control through a ground station. Operators retain the ability to confirm, redirect, or abort engagements in real time. This architecture aligns with NATO procurement requirements emphasizing controlled precision strike capabilities.

Rheinmetall also highlights the system’s intended resilience in contested electromagnetic environments. The munition is designed to function in scenarios where satellite navigation signals may be degraded or denied. In addition, the company indicates reduced acoustic, thermal, radar, and infrared signatures to enhance survivability.

The manufacturer further notes that the system architecture allows for networked operations and potential swarm deployment concepts, reflecting broader trends in European and NATO unmanned strike doctrine.

Industrial and Procurement Context

The testing comes amid sustained European investment in loitering munitions, driven by operational lessons from recent conflicts and increasing demand for cost-effective precision strike options at the tactical and operational level.

For Rheinmetall, the FV-014 represents an expansion of its unmanned systems portfolio and a move into a segment currently dominated by a mix of U.S., Israeli, and emerging European suppliers. Demonstrating the system to a NATO customer suggests that the company is positioning the FV-014 for alliance-wide procurement opportunities.

As European armed forces continue to prioritize long-range fires, distributed operations, and electronic warfare resilience, loitering munitions such as the FV-014 are expected to remain a central element of capability development programs.