German Defense Giant Rheinmetall Unveils Video of FV-014 Strike Drone, Reportedly Battle-Tested in Ukraine

German defense giant Rheinmetall has released footage of its new strike drone, the FV-014, Militarnyi reported on February 19.

The drone was first revealed in September 2025, and this is the first time video footage has been made public, showcasing its capabilities.

The FV-014 has reportedly already undergone combat trials, likely in Ukraine, where it was secretly tested in real-world combat conditions. According to Rheinmetall, the drone is designed to meet NATO’s requirements and has already been demonstrated to a potential customer, though the identity of this NATO country remains undisclosed.

The drone is launched from a rectangular transport and launch container using a solid-fuel rocket engine.

It is equipped with both day and potentially thermal cameras for targeting, though early footage shows the image quality could be improved, especially for long-range operations or in environments with active electronic warfare systems, Militarnyi wrote.

Key Features of the FV-014

• Maximum Range: 100 km

• Communication Range: 60 km

• Weight: 20 kg, with a 5 kg high-explosive dual-purpose (HEDP) warhead capable of penetrating up to 600 mm of armor

• Flight Time: 70 minutes

• Operational Capabilities: Capable of swarm operations, where one operator controls multiple drones simultaneously, and can function without satellite navigation signals.

The FV-014’s design features a faceted body that reduces its radar and infrared signature, paired with an electric motor to make detection extremely difficult. This makes it a stealthy asset in modern warfare scenarios, according to Militarnyi.

Despite some challenges with image stability during testing, Rheinmetall appears to be on track to resolve these issues as the FV-014 is still in its final stages of development.

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War in Ukraine

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The drone’s ability to operate effectively in combat scenarios, combined with its stealth and versatility, positions it as a promising tool for modern military forces.

Earlier, German army chief Carsten Breuer had said German-made loitering munitions modeled on Russia’s Lancet drone have achieved a hit probability of more than 90% in recent tests, rejecting earlier claims of poor performance and clearing the way for procurement decisions.

It was reported that the Bundeswehr’s Inspector General described a “probability of destroying targets” above 90% for the HX-2 loitering munition, produced by Helsing, and the Virtus system, developed by Stark Defence, both of which are equipped with artificial intelligence for target recognition.

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