Germany is preparing to buy Ukrainian-made Bars cruise missiles for its armed forces, the Financial Times reported. An agreement for the first batch is expected to be signed in the coming weeks, and Germany could order several hundred missiles if technical tests succeed.
According to the FT, the missile Germany has chosen is the Bars, which has a range of up to 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) and a payload of up to 105 kilograms (231 pounds). Ukraine uses the missiles to strike military facilities and energy infrastructure in Russia.
Experts say the Bars is the most widely produced of Ukraine’s low-cost missiles. It accounts for the largest number of launches, and its use has been the most thoroughly refined.
Germany already produces the Bars at a joint Ukrainian-German enterprise created under the Build with Ukraine program. Ukraine received the first batch of missiles made there in October.
Politico reported in late August, citing German Defense Ministry documents, that Berlin plans to spend almost 12 billion euros building an arsenal of long-range weapons to deter Russia.
Under the plan, Germany would spend 1.8 billion euros on low-cost cruise missiles, with three options under consideration: Ukraine’s Bars and Flamingo missiles, and missiles from the American-Israeli startup Covenant Industries.
The agreement would mark the first known instance of the Bundeswehr buying offensive weapons of Ukrainian design for its own use. NATO countries are increasingly considering Ukrainian military technology, the FT said. Denmark, Estonia, and Latvia have also said they are ready to buy Ukrainian weapons.
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