Covenant opens cruise missile production facility in Leipzig

US defense company Covenant has opened a new production facility in Leipzig, Germany, to manufacture the Anthem long-range cruise missile. The company plans to begin production in 2027, with an initial target of 1,000 units in the first year, scaling up to 5,000 units annually by 2028. The Leipzig site is intended to become Covenant’s largest facility globally, serving as a hub to supply European customers.

The Anthem system is designed for deep-strike precision missions, capable of carrying a 200-kilogram warhead with a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers. To maintain security, the missiles will be assembled in Leipzig, but explosive payloads will only be installed locally at the customers' sites.

Covenant is investing approximately 250 million euros into the project. The company aims to offer the system at a significantly lower cost than existing market alternatives, targeting a price point in the six-figure range. Johannes Steiniger, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, noted that the investment serves as a strong political signal for strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities.