Rheinmetall has successfully demonstrated the launch of its new FV-014 loitering munition from the company’s Containerized Missile Launcher, marking another step in the expansion of its portfolio of unmanned precision-strike systems.

The demonstration was conducted in July 2026 at the National Test Centre for Unmanned Aerial Systems at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) in Cochstedt, Saxony-Anhalt. Both the FV-014 and the modular Containerized Missile Launcher are Rheinmetall in-house developments.

During the customer demonstration, FV-014 munitions were launched from a Rheinmetall HX military truck while the vehicle was both stationary and moving. The system subsequently performed a series of simulated operational profiles and attack flights.

Designed for highly mobile operations on the modern battlefield, the FV-014 combines reconnaissance, target identification and precision-strike capabilities in a single platform. It offers an operational range of up to 100 kilometres and a flight endurance of up to 70 minutes, providing operators with sufficient time to conduct reconnaissance, identify and select targets and make engagement decisions.

The electrically powered system has a launch weight of approximately 22 kg, including a payload of around 6 kg. According to Rheinmetall, its integrated High-Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) warhead can penetrate more than 600 mm of solid armour steel, enabling the FV-014 to engage armoured and unarmoured vehicles as well as infrastructure.

The munition incorporates modern sensor technology, network connectivity and a high degree of autonomy intended to provide resilience against GNSS interference. Its electric propulsion provides a comparatively quiet approach, while the airframe has also been designed to reduce radar and infrared signatures.

Despite its autonomous capabilities, operational control remains based on a human-in-the-loop architecture. Through the ground control station, the operator can identify and track targets, authorise precision attacks and abort an engagement if operational circumstances change.

FV-014 is launched from a transport and launch container using a booster. Following ejection, its folding wings deploy before the munition transitions into aerodynamic flight.

A key element of Rheinmetall’s concept is the Containerized Missile Launcher, which uses a modular architecture based on standard ISO containers. In its 20-foot configuration, the launcher can accommodate up to 18 FV-014 loitering munitions.

The launcher can operate from a fixed position or be integrated onto mobile platforms such as Rheinmetall HX trucks and, in the future, naval vessels. Connectivity with C4I systems allows launches to be controlled locally, by radio link or through satellite communications.

Rheinmetall also highlights the system’s integrated power supply for extended deployment in remote locations and the use of commercial off-the-shelf components to reduce life-cycle costs. A “sleeper” capability enables the launcher to remain deployed for subsequent remote activation.

Beyond individual precision strikes, the FV-014 is designed to support swarm operations, enabling multiple munitions to engage several targets simultaneously or potentially overwhelm hostile defensive systems.

The successful demonstration highlights Rheinmetall’s growing focus on combining mobile launch architectures, loitering munitions, networked command-and-control and autonomous technologies into deployable precision-strike capabilities for the evolving battlefield.