Germany Turned to Ukraine and Israel for Missiles After US Refused to Deploy Tomahawks

After the US decided not to station a unit armed with Tomahawk missiles in Germany, the German Federal Ministry of Defence approached Ukrainian and Israeli companies regarding the rapid procurement of missiles.

This was reported by POLITICO.

The German government is seeking to acquire inexpensive long-range cruise missiles necessary to deter Russia. At the same time, Berlin’s efforts to independently procure American missiles remain ongoing.

In July 2025, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius sent an official request to US Defense Secretary Pete Hagseth regarding the Typhon system.

However, the US Department of Defense is not expected to begin the formal sales process before mid-2026, as export policy has not yet been finalized. In addition, the US is considering refusing to supply Tomahawk cruise missiles to Germany due to concerns about Russia’s reaction.

According to two European and one US official, Washington fears escalation and possible retaliatory measures from Moscow. This is forcing Germany to seek alternatives.

According to the publication, two Ukrainian designs are participating in the competition—the Flamingo cruise missile and the Bars jet drone.

The little-known Israeli-American company Covenant has also been included in the competition with its Anthem missile, which is still scheduled to undergo testing in Israel in late June.

According to the publication, the company plans to establish a sovereign European supply ecosystem and production lines in Germany and the United Kingdom.

Among the investors in Covenant are the American venture capital funds Founders Fund, led by German-American technology investor Peter Thiel, and Andreessen Horowitz, led by American investors Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz.

At the same time, reaching out to these companies does not mean that Germany is already ready to purchase missiles from any of them; however, it does show what the country is specifically looking for: cruise missiles that are cheap enough for mass procurement, fast enough for rapid deployment, and capable of threatening targets in Russia.

The FP-5 Flamingo cruise missile is made even more attractive by the fact that the German defense company Diehl Defense is already in talks with Fire Point regarding the possible joint production of cruise missiles in Germany.