Germany Prepares for Major Military Overhaul with Multi-Billion-Euro Defense Procurement Plans
According to new internal government documents obtained by Politico, Germany is gearing up for a colossal rearmament program amounting to approximately 377 billion euros across land, air, naval, space, and cyber domains.
These extensive procurement plans form the long-term foundation for a profound reform of Germany’s defense sector, emphasizing support for domestic industry.
Over 160 projects worth 182 billion euros are identified, with German companies dominating the tender landscape.
Rheinmetall, based in Dusseldorf, stands out as the leading contractor, involved in 53 projects totaling over 88 billion euros.
Approximately 32 billion euros are allocated directly to Rheinmetall, while another 56 billion will support its subsidiaries and joint ventures.
The plan foresees the procurement of 687 Puma combat vehicles by 2035, including 662 combat versions and 25 training units.
In air defense, Germany aims to acquire 561 SkyRanger 30 systems.
Diehl Defence remains a key industrial partner, with the IRIS-T missile system set to be a central element in upgraded German air defense.
Unmanned aerial vehicles also feature prominently in the military plans.
One of the most politically sensitive projects is the potential acquisition of 15 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin, estimated at about 2.5 billion euros.
Additionally, Germany plans to buy 400 Tomahawk Block Vb cruise missiles for roughly 1.15 billion euros, along with three Typhon launchers costing 220 million euros—these investments would extend the country’s strike capabilities to over 2,000 kilometers.
It is noteworthy that in spring, the German coalition approved a multi-billion euro package to bolster defense and infrastructure by increasing borrowing.
Past years revealed shortages of equipment across all military branches and a deficit in munitions worth billions of euros, highlighting longstanding issues within the German armed forces.
For detailed insights into these extensive rearmament plans, read our comprehensive analysis.