FV-014

FV-014 is an electrically powered loitering munition developed by Rheinmetall of Germany, first demonstrated publicly in February 2026. It is a tube-launched, container-based "kamikaze drone" intended for reconnaissance, target tracking and precision strike against armoured and unarmoured targets.

Overview

Rheinmetall first showed the FV-014 to a potential NATO customer on 18 February 2026 at the National Test Centre for Unmanned Aerial Systems operated by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) in Cochstedt, Saxony-Anhalt, running simulated reconnaissance, target-tracking and attack profiles. The company presented the system publicly for the first time at the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris in June 2026, alongside the Containerized Missile Launcher (CML) built to fire it.

On 22 April 2026 Rheinmetall signed a framework contract with the German armed forces, which the company describes as worth billions of euros with a first call-off of around €300 million booked that month; the framework includes an option for a five-figure number of FV-014 units. Qualification was due to begin in the second quarter of 2026, with deliveries to the Bundeswehr planned to start in the first half of 2027. In July 2026, Rheinmetall demonstrated launches from a CML mounted on a Rheinmetall HX truck, both stationary and on the move, at the Cochstedt test centre.

Design and capabilities

Rheinmetall states a launch weight of about 20–22 kg, including a payload of roughly 6 kg, across its successive announcements; this entry uses the company's most recent (August 2026) figures. The aircraft is powered by an electric propeller for a quiet approach and carries a 360-degree swiveling nose gimbal for extended target observation. It is launched from a container using a booster; after ejection, its wings fold out and it transitions to aerodynamic flight. Rheinmetall gives an operational range of up to 100 km, a data-link range of 60 km, and an endurance of up to 70 minutes.

The warhead is a Rheinmetall-made high-explosive dual-purpose (HEDP) charge rated to penetrate more than 600 mm of armour steel, intended for use against armoured and unarmoured targets and infrastructure. Control runs through a ground station with permanent human-in-the-loop oversight, letting the operator identify and track targets, launch an attack, or abort the mission; Rheinmetall states the system retains a high degree of autonomy and resilience under GNSS interference, with a reduced radar and infrared signature. A single operator can control multiple FV-014s in a swarm, and the manufacturer describes the system as integrating into its wider reconnaissance network alongside the LUNA NG reconnaissance drone.

The launch container integrates into Rheinmetall's Containerized Missile Launcher (CML), which in its 20-foot configuration holds up to 18 FV-014 rounds and can be mounted on a Rheinmetall HX truck, on fixed installations, or on naval vessels; the company plans eventual deployment from mobile land vehicles and seagoing units. Both the FV-014 and the CML are in-house Rheinmetall developments, and the company states the system is designed and produced entirely within the EU for industrial-scale mass production.

Operational history

As of the Bundeswehr framework agreement, the FV-014 has not been reported in combat use. The February 2026 Cochstedt demonstration was run for an unnamed potential NATO customer, and the April 2026 framework contract is with the German armed forces, with deliveries planned to begin in the first half of 2027. No other named operator or export customer has been disclosed.

Frequently asked questions

What is the range of the FV-014?

Rheinmetall states an operational range of up to 100 km and a data-link range of 60 km.

How long can the FV-014 fly?

The manufacturer states an endurance of up to 70 minutes.

How much does the FV-014 weigh?

Rheinmetall's most recent figures give a launch weight of about 22 kg, including a roughly 6 kg payload; an earlier company announcement gave 20 kg.

Is the FV-014 in service?

No. It is under a Bundeswehr framework contract signed in April 2026, with qualification starting in 2026 and deliveries planned from the first half of 2027.

How is the FV-014 launched?

It launches from a container using a booster; the wings fold out after ejection and the aircraft transitions to aerodynamic flight. The container integrates into Rheinmetall's Containerized Missile Launcher, which can be mounted on trucks, fixed sites or ships.

Who makes the FV-014?

Rheinmetall of Germany, which also builds the LUNA NG and LUNA UAS reconnaissance drones.