Strategic procurement shifts
I view the potential purchase of Bars jet-powered drones as the most logical step for Germany to secure deep-strike capacity. A German official with knowledge of the matter told the Kyiv Independent on Oct. 24 that Germany is negotiating a deal with Ukraine to purchase Bars jet-powered drones. Berlin is discussing the deal with Kyiv because Germany plans to buy thousands of deep-strike weapons from European arms companies, as initially reported by Bloomberg on Oct. 23. Germany’s strategic thinking involves using masses of cheap missiles to overwhelm enemy air defenses. The German army currently operates midrange Taurus cruise missiles, but the U.S. warned allies to expect years-long delays for missile deliveries, which makes the pursuit of cheap, mass-produced drones a much more urgent and necessary strategic priority for Berlin.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Range | 1,000 kilometers |
| Max Speed | 700 kilometers per hour |
The Bars jet-powered drone has a range of 1,000 kilometers and can reach speeds of up to 700 kilometers per hour, making it a potent long-range tool. In September, a representative of the company told the Ukrainian media outlet NV that the Ukrainian army launches around 2,000 of these drones per month to target Russian oil refineries, power plants, and electrical substations. Because the manufacturer is not publicly known for security reasons, Germany must navigate the complexities of procurement with an anonymous supplier.
Production and defense ties
Germany and Ukraine signed a deal to jointly produce Bars in July 2026 as part of the Build with Ukraine initiative. Under the first stage of this deal, Germany finances the production of the drones, and all manufactured equipment is sent to Ukraine’s Armed Forces. On Oct. 10, Ukrinform reported that President Volodymyr Zelensky said Bars have proven to be "one of the most effective interceptors" against Russian jet-powered drones as Moscow continues to escalate attacks on Ukrainian cities. Germany has emerged as the biggest foreign partner in Ukraine’s burgeoning defense tech sector. A September report from the Kyiv School of Economics Institute found 36 joint ventures between Ukrainian and German firms as Berlin prioritizes deep-strike technology and intelligence gathering in the region.
