The German military (Bundeswehr) has more than 108 billion euros at its disposal this year - a large and unprecedented sum. The military is financed from the current federal budget and from special funds for which the state borrows.
With this money, the Bundeswehr, which has been underfunded for decades, should be made war-ready again. This should happen as soon as possible, as the federal government fears that Russia could be capable of launching an attack on NATO member territory as early as 2029.
What does the Bundeswehr buy with its billions? And how does rapid armament work?
Combat drones for the first time for the Bundeswehr
For a long time, there was no political majority for the purchase of combat drones. But the war in Ukraine, in which drones are a decisive factor, has led to a change of mind in Germany. For the first time in its history, the German army will order several thousand combat drones this year. The order has been given priority to new technology companies: the startups Stark Defense from Berlin and Helsing from Munich will each receive an order worth up to 300 million euros. The prototypes of the competitor Rheinmetall have not convinced the Bundeswehr authorities.
Kamikaze drones, known in technical jargon as "walking munitions," will be purchased. The drones, equipped with a missile warhead, crash into their target and self-destruct in the process. Among other things, these drones will be equipped with a Bundeswehr brigade in Lithuania, which is being created to better protect NATO's eastern flank.
Defense against drones and laser weapons
The Bundeswehr also has shortcomings in its defense against drones. This must be solved by combining different defenses. The spectrum ranges from electronic jamming devices to the Skyranger 30 armored anti-aircraft vehicle, which can also neutralize swarms of drones.
The Skyranger, manufactured by the Rheinmetall concern, is particularly important because there are increasingly suspicious drone flights over Germany, including over Bundeswehr facilities. But it may not be ready for use until 2028. The Skyranger will become the main weapon system of the Bundeswehr's newly formed anti-aircraft unit. This unit was disbanded in 2012 because it was deemed no longer needed.
A new laser weapon is planned for anti-drone defense, primarily important for the Navy. Specifically, ships have limited capacity to store ammunition, and laser weapons only need electricity. Such a laser weapon for anti-drone defense, developed by the companies Rheinmetall and MBDA, has already passed the testing phase in the Navy. It is now also on the Bundeswehr procurement list.
Order from American manufacturers too
Although the Bundeswehr mainly buys its new equipment from German and European arms manufacturers, some large contracts have also been concluded with American companies. For example, the one for the F-35A fighter jet, which is considered the most modern combat aircraft in the world. The German government ordered 35 of them from the American defense giant Lockheed Martin. The cost of the entire package, including weapons and spare parts: almost ten billion euros.
One of the reasons for the choice: The F-35 can be armed with American nuclear bombs in case of emergency. This role was previously played by the Bundeswehr's Tornado aircraft, which will soon be withdrawn from service due to their age. The German F-35 fleet thus becomes part of NATO's nuclear umbrella over Europe.
In addition, the Bundeswehr is 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.
Boeing is introducing the P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, which, thanks to state-of-the-art sensor technology, can monitor large maritime areas and detect submarines. The first copy was delivered to the German Navy in the fall. According to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD), this aircraft could be Germany's contribution to better surveillance of the waters around Greenland, as part of the NATO mission.
News for the Bundeswehr: the Uranos KI project
Modern weapons systems can no longer be imagined without artificial intelligence (AI). 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, large areas need to be monitored with precision, where the UI system is being deployed. It should help analyze large amounts of data collected by various sensors. This could, for example, facilitate the detection of enemy drones. Details of the project are being kept secret by the Ministry of Defense for good reason.
The case of the F126 frigate shows that not all large, expensive projects always go smoothly. While the design of the Navy's largest warship was met with enthusiasm, disappointment quickly emerged during construction. The main contractor, the Dutch shipyard Damen Naval, failed to implement the plans. According to media reports, about 1.8 billion euros have already been invested in the F126. The project could turn into a "pit of billions," opposition politicians fear.
Now the German company Naval Vessels Lürssen (NVL) must take over the project and salvage what is still possible. But since the navy urgently needs new frigates due to NATO commitments, a transitional solution is being planned.
The Bundeswehr wants to buy additional MEKO A-200 frigates from TKMS, Germany's largest warship manufacturer. Since this model is already built for export, the plans are complete. But even this "transitional solution" certainly costs extra, the Bundestag already approved an additional 7.8 billion euros for it last year.
New uniforms for future soldiers
Even for new uniforms and personal equipment, the Bundestag approved a large sum at the end of last year - for a total of 460,000 soldiers. Critics have asked whether this is excessive, since the Bundeswehr currently has only about 184,000 members. But the number of soldiers must be increased significantly, including reserves, to 460,000 men and women. This may take years, but uniforms will be available in sufficient numbers anyway. When new soldiers join the service, "we can't just put them in sweatpants," explained Defense Minister Boris Pistorius./DW
