Rheinmetall Unveils Containerized Drone Swarm Launcher at Eurosatory 2026
At the Eurosatory defense exhibition in Paris, German defense contractor Rheinmetall introduced the Containerized Missile Launcher (CML), a 20-foot shipping container capable of deploying up to 18 FV-014 loitering munitions. The system can be operated from vehicles, ships, or railway cars, and integrates into Rheinmetall’s digital Battlesuite network for autonomous swarm control by a single operator. With a 100 km range and 70-minute endurance, the CML offers cost-effective precision strikes. The German Bundeswehr has awarded Rheinmetall a €300 million contract for the FV-014, with potential for billions more in future business.
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Rheinmetall unveils shipping container-based loitering munition launcher
German defense company Rheinmetall presented a new concept at the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris on June 15, 2026, for launching swarms of loitering munitions from standard 20-foot shipping containers. Each container can hold 18 FV-014 munitions, which are ejected via rocket-assisted start and can travel up to 100 kilometers with a 4 kg warhead and 70-minute flight time. The system can be mounted on trucks for frontline use or camouflaged along borders for defensive ambushes. Rheinmetall plans to open the container's launch interface architecture to allow third-party munitions. The German Bundeswehr recently awarded Rheinmetall a contract worth approximately €300 million ($348 million) for the FV-014, joining earlier contracts with Stark Defence and Helsing for similar loitering munitions.
Defense NewsRheinmetall unveils shipping container capable of launching swarms of attack drones
German defense company Rheinmetall presented a new concept at the Eurosatory defense exhibition in Paris on June 15, 2026, featuring a 20-foot shipping container that can launch swarms of loitering munitions. Each container holds 18 FV-014 munitions, which are ejected via rocket-assisted start, deploy stabilizer fins, and can travel up to 100 kilometers with a 4-kilogram warhead. The drones have a maximum flight time of 70 minutes and can be directed by a reconnaissance and strike network. Potential applications include truck-mounted front-line deployment or camouflaged border defense. Rheinmetall plans to open the container's launch interface architecture to allow third-party munitions. The German Bundeswehr recently awarded Rheinmetall a contract worth approximately €300 million ($348 million) for the FV-014, joining other domestic loitering munition makers Stark Defence and Helsing in a program that could generate billions more in future business.
Defense NewsRheinmetall unveils shipping container-based loitering munition launcher
German defense company Rheinmetall presented a new concept at the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris on June 15, 2026, for launching swarms of loitering munitions from standard 20-foot shipping containers. Each container can hold 18 FV-014 munitions, which are ejected via rocket-assisted start and can travel up to 100 kilometers with a 4 kg warhead and 70-minute flight time. The system can be mounted on trucks for frontline use or camouflaged along borders for ambush operations. Rheinmetall plans to open the container's launch interface architecture to allow third-party munitions. The German Bundeswehr recently awarded Rheinmetall a contract worth approximately €300 million ($348 million) for the FV-014, joining earlier contracts with Stark Defence and Helsing for similar loitering munitions.
Defense NewsRheinmetall Unveils Containerized Drone Swarm Launcher at Eurosatory
At the Eurosatory defense exhibition in Paris, Rheinmetall introduced the Containerized Missile Launcher (CML), a system capable of deploying up to 18 loitering munitions (LM FV-014) from a standard 20-foot container. The launcher can be operated stationary or from vehicles, ships, or railway cars. It features an integrated fire control system, autonomous standby mode, and remote activation. The CML is part of Rheinmetall's digital effect network, connecting reconnaissance, command, and effectors via the Battlesuite. The FV-014 munitions have a range of up to 100 km and an endurance of 70 minutes, with swarm capability allowing a single operator to control multiple systems simultaneously. The system is designed for cost-effective, rapidly deployable precision strikes, drawing inspiration from Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb.
CPM Defence Network – News: Verteidigung und WehrtechnikRheinmetall Unveils Containerized Drone Swarm Launcher at Eurosatory
At the Eurosatory defense exhibition in Paris, Rheinmetall presented its new Containerized Missile Launcher (CML), capable of deploying up to 18 loitering munitions (LM FV-014) from a standard 20-foot container. The system can be operated stationary or from vehicles, ships, or railway cars. It integrates into Rheinmetall's digital Battlesuite network, connecting reconnaissance, command, and effect systems via open interfaces. Designed for swarm operations, the launcher allows a single operator to control multiple munitions simultaneously. With a range of up to 100 km and 70 minutes endurance, the CML offers cost-effective, rapidly deployable precision strike capabilities. The system features autonomous operation, its own power supply, and remote activation, similar to Ukraine's 'Operation Spiderweb.' Rheinmetall aims to reduce battlefield response times through this end-to-end digital effect network.
CPM Defence Network – News: Verteidigung und WehrtechnikRheinmetall Unveils Containerized Drone Swarm Launcher at Eurosatory
German defense contractor Rheinmetall introduced the Containerized Missile Launcher (CML) at the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris, capable of deploying up to 18 loitering munitions (FV-014) from a standard 20-foot container. The system is designed for stationary or mobile use on vehicles, ships, or railway cars. It integrates into Rheinmetall's digital effect network via the Battlesuite, enabling autonomous operation, remote activation, and swarm control by a single operator. The FV-014 has a range of 100 km and endurance of 70 minutes. Rheinmetall's Chief Digital Officer, Dr. Timo Haas, emphasized the focus on an integrated solution linking reconnaissance, command, and effectors to reduce battlefield reaction times. The system is already procured by the German Armed Forces.
CPM Defence Network – News: Verteidigung und Wehrtechnik