Rheinmetall launched its FV-014 loitering munition from its Containerized Missile Launcher for the first time.
The demonstration took place in July 2026 at the National Test Centre for Unmanned Aerial Systems, operated by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) at Cochstedt, Saxony-Anhalt.
The munition was fired from a Rheinmetall HX truck both from a standstill and while the vehicle was in motion, and flew a series of simulated mission profiles and attack runs. Rheinmetall did not identify the customer or say whether the demonstration was tied to an existing contract.
Containerized launcher carries up to 18 munitions
The FV-014 is ejected from a transport and launch container by a booster, then unfolds its wings and transitions to aerodynamic flight on an electrically driven propeller. Up to 18 rounds fit in a 20-foot configuration.
Built around a standard ISO container, the launcher is offered for fixed sites, wheeled platforms, and naval vessels. Connection to command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) systems allows firing by a local operator, over a radio link or through satellite communications, and Rheinmetall said the launcher includes a dormant “sleeper” mode permitting remote activation. The company has taken a similar containerized approach elsewhere, including the naval laser weapon system it is developing with MBDA Deutschland.
Bundeswehr deliveries expected in 2027
Rheinmetall gave the launch weight as approximately 22 kilograms including a payload of about six kilograms, and said the high-explosive dual purpose warhead penetrates more than 600 millimeters of solid armor steel. Range is stated at up to 100 kilometers (62 miles) with an endurance of 70 minutes, with the operator retaining human-in-the-loop control and the ability to abort an attack. The company said the FV-014 supports both single strikes and swarm engagements intended to saturate defenses, and that launches from other land vehicle platforms and from seagoing units are planned.
The demonstration follows the framework contract Rheinmetall signed with the Bundeswehr for the FV-014 on April 22, 2026, cleared by the German Budget Committee on April 15, 2026, and reported in the German trade press as carrying a ceiling of around €2.4 billion. The initial call-off, worth roughly €300 million, covers approximately 2,500 rounds, with deliveries due to begin in the first half of 2027 following qualification activities started in the second quarter of 2026. The systems are expected to equip Panzerbrigade 45, the German armored brigade stationed in Lithuania.
The system adds to a growing uncrewed portfolio at Rheinmetall that also includes counter-drone sensors and effectors and, more recently, work on integrating the Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat for the German Air Force.