German defense manufacturer Rheinmetall conducted a customer demonstration in July 2026, firing its FV-014 loitering munition from a Containerized Missile Launcher mounted on an HX truck. The test, held at the German Aerospace Centre in Cochstedt, Saxony-Anhalt, validated both stationary and moving launch capabilities during simulated operational and attack profiles.
The Containerized Missile Launcher, built from a standard 20-foot ISO shipping container, can hold up to 18 FV-014 munitions. Beyond truck mounting, the platform can deploy statically or integrate onto rail cars and naval vessels. The launcher incorporates its own power supply for remote deployment, supports satellite and radio links to command-and-control networks, and features a “sleeper” mode for remote activation after field positioning.
The FV-014 has a launch weight of 22 kilograms, including a 6-kilogram High-Explosive Dual Purpose warhead designed to penetrate over 600 millimeters of armor steel. Powered by an electric propeller to limit radar, acoustic, and infrared signatures, the weapon achieves an operational range of up to 100 kilometers and an endurance of 70 minutes. Flight operations rely on a permanent human-in-the-loop control model, while automated navigation systems resist GNSS interference in contested electronic warfare environments. The system also supports swarm tactics to overwhelm opposing air defenses.
Germany’s Bundeswehr has ordered the system under an April 2026 contract, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2027 to equip Panzerbrigade 45 in Lithuania. Rheinmetall plans further adaptations for mobile land vehicles and maritime units.
