Defense Startup Plans to Develop Missiles in Leipzig

Following the establishment of the U.S. defense contractor Covenant in Leipzig, another company specializing in missiles is apparently planning to expand in the trade fair city. Falk Defence, a Düsseldorf-based defense startup founded last year, opened an office in Leipzig this spring and is currently recruiting staff for the research and development of new missile systems.

Falk Defence has now outlined its goals on its website: According to the company, it aims to drive the development of next-generation rocket artillery systems. These are to be manufactured 100 percent in Europe, the company adds. Until now, Germany has been dependent on suppliers from third countries. “Falk Defence wants to close this gap,” the company explains. 

A new rocket artillery system is intended to “restore Europe’s sovereignty in a key area of modern warfare.” When asked by the German Press Agency, the company initially declined to comment on its plans in Leipzig. 

“Siegfried” missile system to be manufactured in Europe

On the social network LinkedIn, the company stated its intention to become a major European player in modern precision weapon systems. According to the statement, the missile system currently under development is called “Siegfried SF1-100.” The guided artillery missile is said to have a range of approximately 100 kilometers and to be 70 percent cheaper to produce than comparable systems. 

According to the information provided, prototypes of the missile are being developed and tested in Leipzig. To this end, the company is seeking, among other positions, a software developer and a flight test engineer. The startup has also already identified potential customers: Ukraine is a potential market, according to a post on LinkedIn. According to the report, company representatives attended a conference of the German-Ukrainian Chamber of Foreign Trade in Kyiv last week, which focused on defense and security issues.

In fact, there is currently no such weapons system manufactured in Europe, explains Martin Kurczyk, chairman of the Central German Institute for the Security Industry (MISI), which was involved in helping the company establish itself in the region. Until now, comparable systems have primarily come from the U.S. This has led to dependencies in terms of delivery and supply chain resilience.

Expert: Leipzig Region Well-Suited for Production

It remains to be seen where Falk Defence intends to produce such a weapons system. For Kurczyk, a former Major General in the German Armed Forces, one thing is clear: the region is an attractive location. Saxony offers expertise in metalworking, Thuringia in optics and sensor technology, and there is also a pool of skilled workers and the logistical advantage of the Leipzig/Halle Airport. 

Just this month, the U.S. defense contractor Covenant opened its production facility for long-range cruise missiles in Leipzig. In the northern part of the city, the company plans to begin manufacturing its “Anthem” weapon system next year. According to the company, several hundred people are expected to work in production. The plan is to produce 1,000 units of the weapon system in the first year, with a target of 5,000 units in the second year. 

Leipzig will be the company’s largest facility, alongside factories in Dallas, Texas, and in Israel, said CEO Michael Kaufman. The Anthem missile system is designed for long ranges and precision strikes deep within enemy territory. The missiles are assembled in Leipzig. According to the company, the missiles will not be loaded with explosives until they reach the customer’s site.