Rheinmetall released live-fire footage on February 19, 2026, highlighting its FV-014 loitering munition during a customer-facing trial at Germany’s National Test Centre for Unmanned Aerial Systems in Cochstedt. The 20-kilogram fixed-wing drone carries a 5-kilogram high-explosive dual-purpose warhead capable of penetrating more than 600 millimeters of rolled homogeneous armor and striking targets at ranges up to 100 kilometers. Designed for brigade and battalion-level operations, the system demonstrated dynamic strike profiles against armored vehicles, artillery, and command posts while maintaining human-in-the-loop control. Rheinmetall says the FV-014 is engineered to operate in GNSS-denied and electronically contested environments, reflecting battlefield lessons from Ukraine. The company also emphasizes scalable production using modular architecture and commercial components, signaling Europe’s intent to field sovereign, high-volume loitering strike capabilities aligned with NATO doctrine. Read more...
