German army (Bundeswehr) has more than 108 billion euros available this year. This is a large, unprecedented amount that is financed both from the current federal budget and from special funds for which the state borrows.
With that money, Bundeswehr, which had been saved for decades, had to become combat-ready again. And that as quickly as possible, because the German federal government fears that Russia could be capable of launching an attack on the territory of NATO members as early as 2029. writes Deutsche Welle.
The Bundeswehr is ordering new weapons and equipment in bulk, and some of it is arriving in the German arsenal and military warehouses for the first time.
Combat drones for the Bundeswehr for the first time
For a long time, there was no political majority for the acquisition of combat drones. But the war in Ukraine, in which drones are a decisive factor, has led to a change in thinking in Germany. For the first time in its history, the Bundeswehr is ordering several thousand combat drones this year.
When it comes to orders, young technology companies got the upper hand: the startups Stark Defense from Berlin and Helsing from Munich should each receive an order worth up to 300 million euros. The prototypes of Rheinmetall's competitors were not convincing to the authorities in the Bundeswehr.
Kamikaze drones, called "loitering ammunition" in professional jargon, are being bought. These are drones equipped with a warhead that crash into a target and are themselves destroyed in the process. Among other things, they should be equipped with the Bundeswehr brigade in Lithuania, which is being established to better protect NATO's eastern wing.
Anti-drone defense and laser weapons
The Bundeswehr is also lacking in defense against drones. It should be solved by combining different defenses. The spectrum ranges from electronic jamming devices to the Skyranger 30 anti-aircraft armored vehicle, which can also suppress swarms of drones.
The Skyranger, produced by the Rheinmetall concern, is particularly important, as more and more suspicious drone flights are being recorded over Germany – including over Bundeswehr facilities. But the raj system can only be delivered in 2028. The Skyranger will become the main weapon system of the newly formed anti-aircraft unit of the Army. That unit was disbanded in 2012, as it was deemed no longer needed.
A new laser weapon is planned for defense against drones. It is primarily important for the navy. Namely, ships have limited capacities for storing ammunition, and laser weapons only need electricity. One such laser weapon for defense against drones, developed by Rheinmetall and MBDA, has already passed the testing phase in the Navy. It is now also on the Bundeswehr procurement list.
Orders from American manufacturers as well
Although the Bundeswehr mainly buys its new equipment from German and European manufacturers, some large contracts are also concluded with American concerns - for example, for the F‑35A stealth aircraft, which is considered the most modern fighter aircraft in the world. The German government has ordered 35 pieces from US defense giant Lockheed Martin. The cost of the entire package, including weapons and spare parts, amounts to almost ten billion euros.
One of the reasons for such a choice is that the F‑35 can be equipped with American nuclear bombs in case of emergency. Tornado Bundeswehr aircraft have been responsible for this until now, but due to their age, they will soon be withdrawn from service. The German fleet of F-35 aircraft will thus become part of the NATO nuclear umbrella over Europe.
In addition, the Bundeswehr is also buying 60 CH-47 Chinook heavy transport helicopters from the American concern Boeing. In Europe, experts say, there is no competing product with such capabilities. Price: 7,3 billion euros.
The P‑8A Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft is also arriving from Boeing, which thanks to the most modern sensor technology can monitor large sea areas and detect submarines. The first copy was already delivered to the German Navy last fall. According to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD), that plane could be Germany's contribution to better surveillance of the waters around Greenland as part of the NATO mission.
News for the Bundeswehr: artificial intelligence "Uranos"
Modern weapon systems can no longer be imagined without artificial intelligence. How much its importance is growing is shown by the Uranos KI project, which will equip the Bundeswehr brigade in Lithuania.
On NATO's eastern flank, it is necessary to precisely monitor large areas - and this is where artificial intelligence comes into play. It should help analyze large amounts of data collected by various sensors. It could, for example, make it easier to detect enemy drones. The details of the project are being kept secret by the German Ministry of Defense - for good reason.
Frigate F126 – from a prestigious project to a problem
The case of the F126 frigate shows that expensive and large projects do not always go smoothly. After the design of the Navy's largest battleship was greeted with enthusiasm, disappointment quickly set in during construction. The main contractor, Dutch shipyard Damen Naval, failed to implement the plans. According to media reports, about 1,8 billion euros have been invested in the F126 so far. The project could become a "grave for billions", fear opposition politicians.
Now the German firm Naval Vessels Liersen should take over the project and salvage what can be salvaged. But since the navy urgently needs new frigates due to its obligations in NATO, a temporary solution is being planned. The Bundeswehr wants to purchase additional MEKO A‑200 frigates from TKMS, Germany's largest warship manufacturer. As that model is already built for export, the plans are ready. But even that "transitional solution" of course costs extra - the Bundestag already approved an additional 7,8 billion euros for it last year.
New uniforms for future soldiers
And for new uniforms and personal equipment, the Bundestag approved a large amount at the end of last year - for a total of 460.000 soldiers. Critics have publicly questioned whether this is excessive - as the Bundeswehr currently only has around 184.000 members. But the number of soldiers is set to rise significantly – including reserves – to 460.000 men and women.
It may take years, but the uniforms will be in sufficient numbers then in any case. When new soldiers enter the service, "we can't dress them in tracksuits," explained Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
