German Defence Ministry interested in missiles from two Ukrainian manufacturers – Politico

Germany is approaching companies from Ukraine and Israel over the possible purchase of low-cost long-range cruise missiles needed to deter Russia, the German Defence Ministry's planning documents show.

Source: European Pravda, citing Politico

Details: The initiative gained new urgency after US President Donald Trump decided not to send to Germany a military unit equipped with long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles and Berlin's efforts to purchase the missiles independently remain unresolved.

Representatives of the industry and government officials familiar with the matter said the German Defence Ministry's arms procurement office is now interested in working with smaller defence companies, such as Ukraine's Fire Point and Israel's Covenant.

The German Defence Ministry's moves do not mean Berlin is certain to buy missiles from either of these companies. But they indicate that Berlin is looking for cruise missiles cheap enough to be purchased in large quantities, fast enough for operational use and capable of posing a threat to Russian military targets.

Industry representatives and German government officials told the outlet that Ukraine is one of the important suppliers of low-cost missile systems being considered by Berlin.

The planning documents name two Ukraine-linked systems as candidates to supply Germany with low-cost cruise missiles: Flamingo, made by the Ukrainian company Fire Point, and Bars, produced by an unnamed Ukrainian company.

The documents state that both systems are being considered as part of an experimental study that could lead to a production contract if the weapons prove suitable.

The FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile has a range of 3,000 kilometres, a one-tonne warhead and is already striking targets inside Russia. The Bars missile has also been used in recent Ukrainian attacks on Russia.

Ukrainian missiles cost about US$500,000 each, roughly one-fifth of the cost of a Tomahawk missile, making them better suited to a war of attrition such as the one Ukraine is fighting against Russia.

In response to Politico's request for comment, a spokesman for the German Defence Ministry said the war in Ukraine has shown that striking strategic targets deep behind the front line has become "indispensable for credible deterrence".

"Cost-effective systems can overwhelm enemy air defenses through mass attacks and are therefore of high operational value," the spokesperson said. The ministry seeks to expand these capabilities "as quickly as possible" and is monitoring the market, but declined to discuss specific procurement plans or companies.

Background:

• German defence company Diehl Defence, which manufactures, among other systems, the Iris-T air defence system, has expressed interest in cooperating with Ukraine's Fire Point for the potential production of Ukrainian Flamingo missiles on German territory.
• In May, Fire Point stated that the German government is considering replacing Tomahawks with Flamingo missiles, while members of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's party called for the creation of a Tomahawk alternative jointly with Ukraine.

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