German Defense Ministry confirms talks with startup Covenant over Anthem cruise missile
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The German military is in negotiations with Covenant, a U.S.-Israeli venture capital-backed startup, regarding its Anthem cruise missile, the German Defense Ministry confirmed on Friday. The weapon is intended to quickly address a gap in Berlin's long-range strike arsenal, which is currently strained due to delays in a new Taurus missile variant, uncertain U.S. Tomahawk deliveries following heavy use in the American-Israeli war against Iran, and the early stages of the pan-European ELSA development effort. A Defense Ministry spokesperson declined to provide details on the negotiations or how the Anthem would fit into Bundeswehr plans. Covenant claims the ground-launched Anthem is production-ready, with weekly flight tests, and aims for a mid-six-figure unit cost, significantly cheaper than the current Taurus missile which costs $1 million or more. The company, founded in 2024 and operating in stealth mode until this week, plans to begin serial production in Germany at a facility near Leipzig in the first quarter of 2027. The facility is reportedly a metalworking plant, with details on propellant and warhead integration undisclosed. The announcement comes at a politically sensitive time in east Germany, where the far-right, Russia-friendly Alternative for Germany party has gained electoral strength.
Source report
VIENNA — The German military is in discussions with Covenant, a U.S.-Israeli venture capital-backed startup, regarding its Anthem cruise missile, the country's defense ministry confirmed on Friday.
The weapon could help Berlin quickly close a gap in its long-range strike arsenal, intended to deter Russian aggression. Germany's current long-range weapons portfolio faces several challenges:
- A new version of the air-launched Taurus cruise missile is years away from fielding
- Planned U.S. deliveries of Tomahawk cruise missiles are uncertain following heavy use in the American-Israeli war against Iran
- A pan-European development effort, dubbed ELSA, is still in its early stages
A German Defense Ministry spokesperson declined to provide additional details about the state of negotiations with Covenant, beyond confirming they are ongoing, or about how the Anthem would fit into Bundeswehr planning.
Ground-Launched Capabilities
Germany has so far prioritized Lockheed Martin-made Typhon launchers for its envisioned ground-based strike ecosystem. These launchers can fire a variety of munitions at varying ranges, including Tomahawks, which have a range of more than 1,500 kilometers.
The Anthem missile is also reportedly ground-launched, though the company did not respond in time for publication with details about its launch system.
Production and Pricing
Covenant claims the Anthem weapon is production-ready, with flight tests occurring weekly. The company's pitch centers on producing missiles more cheaply than current standard systems. Reuters has reported a mid-six-figure target price per unit set by company executives during serial production. By comparison, a current-generation Taurus missile costs $1 million or more.
According to the company's website: "Anthem is built on local production lines so allied governments buy directly from an industrial base they can rely on."
Facilities and Timeline
- Main facility: Grand Prairie, Texas
- German facility: Leipzig, Saxony (near Leipzig-Halle Airport)
- Third plant: Israel
The company was founded in 2024 and operated in "stealth mode" for two years until this week's announcement. It employs 200 people and was recruiting for 29 positions, seven of them in Germany, at the time of writing.
Serial production in Germany is set to begin in early 2027, according to a Berlin lobbying firm handling local media inquiries for Covenant. A spokesman stated that "global customers" would receive Anthems "as early as 2026, but German-built Anthems will begin in Q1 2027."
Reuters had previously reported German production for an unnamed non-American recipient starting by the end of 2026, citing company executives.
Regulatory and Political Context
German online publication Tag24 has reported that the Leipzig facility will not handle explosives, allowing it to operate under regulations as a metalworking plant rather than a munitions factory. Covenant declined to provide further details about where propellant and warhead integration would take place for European-produced units, or whether this would occur within Germany or elsewhere.
The company also declined to indicate who potential European buyers might be.
The announcement of the Leipzig-area facility comes at a politically sensitive time in east Germany. The far-right Alternative for Germany party, which is close with Russia and opposes support for Ukraine, recently won majorities in local elections, including in the neighboring state of Saxony-Anhalt last weekend. The party is also the strongest political force in Saxony itself, where the Covenant facility is located.
Source
Defense NewsWestern