U.S. Companies to Mass Produce Low-Cost Cruise Missiles in Germany

According to a report by Reference News Network on September 12, Reuters reported on September 9 that the U.S. defense startup Kofnant plans to begin large-scale production of low-cost cruise missiles in Germany in early 2027 to meet the needs of European countries. These countries are seeking to procure long-range weapons to address what they perceive as an increasingly severe threat from Russia.

Kofnant stated that its "Anthem" missile has currently secured a contract in Europe, and the company is in discussions with other potential customers, although it did not disclose the names of specific countries.

Michael Kaufman, co-founder and CEO of Kofnant, said, "Our goal is to reach a production capacity of 5,000 units by 2028, or to achieve an annual production of at least 5,000 units by 2028." He was referring to the company's factory located in the Free State of Saxony in eastern Germany.

Currently, trust in Washington is waning in Europe, and there is an increasing call to eliminate reliance on U.S. components for weapons. Kofnant stated that most of the components for the "Anthem" missiles manufactured in Europe come from the European continent.

Kaufman said, "The supply chain for the Saxony factory is completely independent of the U.S.… Less than 5% of the materials list comes from outside Europe. Our goal is to reduce this percentage to zero."

The "Anthem" missile may provide a new option for European countries looking to expand their long-range weapon stockpiles, as these countries currently have limited and expensive long-range weapons, which are considered insufficient to counter the vast arsenals of countries like Russia.

Kofnant stated that the "Anthem" missile not only addresses the quantity issue but is also more affordable compared to weapons like Raytheon's "Tomahawk" missile, with each missile priced at "around $500,000."

The company also mentioned that it is developing a naval version of the "Anthem" missile, which will have a payload exceeding 200 kilograms and can be used to strike ground and maritime targets.

Kofnant did not disclose the range of the "Anthem" missile but stated that it is very suitable for the European battlefield.

Abby Dunberg, the company's president and chief growth officer, told Reuters, "The key to winning wars or deterring adversaries is having enough depth and weapons to sustain for days, weeks, or even months in a conflict."

Kaufman estimated that Germany and other European countries need tens of thousands of long-range missiles to address a distant and vast territorial adversary. (Translated by Yang Xinpeng)