Phoenix 24
Mass production could give Berlin a new deterrent while reshaping Europe’s dependence on American weapons.
BERLIN, GERMANY
US defence company Covenant is considering manufacturing medium-range cruise missiles near Leipzig from 2027, with potential production reaching 1,000 units annually. The proposed weapons would reportedly travel more than 1,500 kilometres, allowing German forces to strike military targets far behind an adversary’s front line. Germany’s Defence Ministry has requested proposals from the company, but no acquisition contract or final production decision has been announced.
Reliable specifications remain limited. The missiles’ dimensions, weight, payload, speed and guidance architecture have not been publicly disclosed. Covenant is developing a cruise missile called Anthem, but it has not confirmed that this is the system intended for production in Germany. The company recently conducted its first operational test in Morocco, evaluating communications, launch mechanisms and flight control.
Cost could become the project’s principal advantage. Each missile would reportedly cost several hundred thousand dollars, considerably less than a Tomahawk, which can exceed $2 million depending on the version. Lower prices and large production volumes could enable Germany to maintain a deeper stockpile instead of reserving long-range weapons for only the most critical targets.
Although Covenant is an American company, most components would reportedly come from Germany and other European countries. A Leipzig production line could therefore shorten delivery times, strengthen the continent’s defence industry and reduce reliance on weapons imported directly from the United States. Covenant was established in 2024 and is backed by investors associated with the American technology sector, making the proposal ambitious but still commercially and technically unproven.
The initiative reflects Germany’s search for a credible deep-strike capability following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and growing uncertainty over Washington’s long-term security commitments. A missile with this range could reach command centres, airfields and logistics hubs across a broad geographical area. Its strategic value, however, would depend on surveillance, targeting intelligence, electronic resilience and integration with NATO command systems, not range alone.
Producing more long-range missiles may strengthen deterrence by convincing an adversary that aggression would carry costs beyond the immediate battlefield. It could also intensify regional arms competition and generate debate over deployment authority and escalation control. Germany is therefore considering more than a new weapon: it is deciding how much offensive military power Europe should possess independently and who should control its use.
Detrás de cada dato, la intención. / Behind every data point, the intention.