Rheinmetall has successfully test-launched its new FV-014 loitering munition from its in-house Containerized Missile Launcher, demonstrating the system’s readiness during a customer demonstration in July 2026 at the German Aerospace Centre’s unmanned systems test site in Cochstedt, Saxony-Anhalt.
Fired from a Rheinmetall HX truck both stationary and on the move, the FV-014 combines reconnaissance, target identification, and precision-strike capability in a single 22-kilogram platform, boasting a strike range of up to 100 kilometers, a loiter time of up to 70 minutes, and strong resistance to GNSS jamming through high autonomy.
The munition’s HEDP warhead can penetrate more than 600 millimeters of armor steel, making it effective against armored vehicles, unarmored targets, and infrastructure alike, while a quiet electric propeller and reduced radar/infrared signature enhance its battlefield survivability.
Designed for human-in-the-loop control via a ground station, the FV-014 also supports coordinated swarm attacks to overwhelm enemy defenses, and its modular launcher — which can hold up to 18 units in a 20-foot ISO container — is built for future deployment on land vehicles and naval vessels alike.
Background
The Containerized Missile Launcher is a highly flexible, modular launch platform designed for the FV-014 loitering munition system, based on a standardised ISO container. It can be deployed in a stationary configuration, on mobile platforms such as a Rheinmetall HX truck, or on naval vessels. Connection to command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I) systems enables flexible launch by a local operator, via radio link, or via satellite communication. An integrated power supply ensures reliable long-term operation even in remote operational areas, and the consistent use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components reduces life-cycle costs. The system also features an integrated “sleeper” capability for remote activation.
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