German MPs authorised roughly €50 billion in defence procurements as part of a wider effort to modernise the Bundeswehr, bringing total acquisitions cleared this year to nearly €83 billion. The package includes missiles for Patriot and IRIS‑T systems, artillery, torpedoes, armoured vehicles, satellite systems and uniforms for up to 460,000 troops. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has loosened debt rules to accelerate rearmament, and Berlin aims to raise core defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2029.
Germany Approves €50bn Military Procurement Package as Berlin Accelerates Bundeswehr Overhaul
Germany is ramping up military spending to face a growing threat from Russia (Ina FASSBENDER)(Ina FASSBENDER/AFP/AFP)
German lawmakers on Wednesday approved roughly €50 billion ($59 billion) in defence procurements as part of a broader push to modernise the Bundeswehr amid growing concerns about Russian aggression and shifting transatlantic security commitments.
What Was Approved
The parliamentary budget committee cleared more than 30 separate projects, bringing total defence procurements approved this year to nearly €83 billion. The acquisitions include missiles for the Patriot and IRIS-T air-defence systems, artillery, torpedoes, weapon systems for aircraft, unmanned aerial reconnaissance systems, armoured vehicles, satellite systems and new combat clothing and protective equipment.
Personnel Equipment
The package also covers uniforms and gear for up to 460,000 troops and protective equipment for about 80,000 civilian staff, addressing long-standing shortages that have affected troop readiness.
Why Now
After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Germany abandoned aspects of its post‑war pacifist posture and significantly increased defence spending to rebuild and modernise its armed forces. Perceptions of a weaker U.S. commitment to European security since the return of Donald Trump to the White House have added urgency to Berlin's efforts.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who took office in May, accelerated the rearmament drive by temporarily exempting defence spending from strict debt rules to free up funds for immediate procurement and expansion plans.
Budget And Future Plans
Germany has raised its defence targets and aims to lift core defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2029. The government plans to spend more than €500 billion on defence between now and 2029. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius described this year's spending level as a new record and said "huge investments" will be required in coming years, adding that the government will manage the funds "carefully and conscientiously."
"We must be able to equip each and every individual for their specific mission when they join us," Pistorius said, underscoring the focus on readiness and individual protection.
Recruitment And Conscription
The government is seeking to expand the size of the armed forces, which shrank after the Cold War. Lawmakers backed a new initiative to boost troop numbers. While officials are not reinstating compulsory military service for now, they have warned it could be reconsidered if voluntary recruitment proves insufficient.
Under parliamentary rules, individual defence purchases over €25 million require MPs' sign-off—hence Wednesday's separate approvals, even though the overall defence budget for the year was already in place.
