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Up to 1,000 missiles a year possible Covenant plans Production of Anthem Cruise Missile in Germany

From Detlev Karg 2 min Reading Time

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US defence company Covenant Industries plans to manufacture cruise missiles near Leipzig in eastern Germany from 2027, according to media reports. The planned weapon, known as Anthem, is expected to have a range of more than 1,500 kilometres.

A test system of Covenant Industries' Anthem cruise missile during trials in Morocco.(Photo: US Army/Capt. Jordan Beagle - Public Domain)
A test system of Covenant Industries' Anthem cruise missile during trials in Morocco.
(Photo: US Army/Capt. Jordan Beagle - Public Domain)

Covenant is reportedly aiming for a production capacity of up to 1,000 missiles per year, with most components to be sourced from Germany and other European countries. The exact location of the planned production facility has not yet been disclosed. 

Germany is seeking substitute for Tomahawks

The project comes as Germany seeks to rapidly expand its long-range strike capabilities. Anthem is understood to be among the systems being considered for a new class of comparatively low-cost, mass-producible cruise missiles intended to complement more sophisticated and expensive long-range weapons. According to reports, Germany is evaluating several potential systems, including Covenant's Anthem as well the Flamingo cruise missile developed by Ukrainian company Fire Point. The aim is to establish a larger stock of long-range precision weapons that can be produced at significantly higher rates than traditional high-end cruise missiles.

Important step for Germany

Covenant is reportedly targeting initial deliveries as early as 2027. Neither the company nor the German Ministry of Defence has commented on details of the planned production facility. If realised, an annual capacity of up to 1,000 missiles would mark a significant expansion of Germany's industrial base for long-range weapons and underline the growing emphasis on combining sophisticated strike systems with lower-cost weapons available in much larger quantities.

During the trials near Tan-Tan, Anthem successfully collected initial data for further development and testing.(Picture: US Army/Capt. Jordan Beagle)
During the trials near Tan-Tan, Anthem successfully collected initial data for further development and testing.
(Picture: US Army/Capt. Jordan Beagle)

First successful test

Covenant recently conducted the first live-fire demonstration of its Anthem cruise missile in Morocco, offering a rare public glimpse of the system. The missile was launched on 6 August from an expeditionary test site near Tan-Tan in southern Morocco. The event also marked the first live-fire demonstration at the new Africa Multidomain Training and Experimentation Center (AMTEC), a joint US-Moroccan military testing facility. During the trial, teams tested communications, evaluated elements of the missile and launcher and collected weather and targeting data. The demonstration represents a significant step for Covenant, which was founded only in 2024 and has so far operated largely out of public view. However, the test did not constitute an operational deployment. It was primarily intended to collect data for further development and demonstrated the system's ability to be launched under realistic field conditions.

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