Germany is preparing to take one of its biggest leaps in military expansion since the Cold War. Lawmakers in the Bundestag are expected next week to approve a sweeping $2.9 billion weapons and equipment package, part of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s plan to transform the Bundeswehr into Europe’s strongest conventional army.
According to documents obtained by Bloomberg and reported by TASR, Berlin intends to greenlight 11 separate procurement contracts, involving everything from assault rifles and battlefield drones to AI surveillance systems designed to monitor NATO’s eastern flank.
A Military Shopping List Worth Billions
Germany’s Ministry of Defense has asked parliament to authorize the purchase of:
- 250,000 G95 assault rifles from Heckler & Koch worth €765 million
- 250,000 laser-targeting modules from Rheinmetall Soldier Electronics
- 1,744 tactical military vehicles from Mercedes-Benz totaling €379 million
- 750 reconnaissance drones from Munich-based startup Quantum Systems for €85 million
- 191,000 military headsets provided by a consortium led by Rheinmetall Electronics, 3M Deutschland, and CeoTronics for €346 million
The numbers reflect a military undergoing rapid modernization and preparing for long-term strategic threats following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
AI on the Front Lines
In a notable departure from Germany’s usual procurement methods, the Ministry of Defense plans to award two competing contracts — worth a combined €68 million — to develop artificial intelligence systems capable of monitoring NATO’s eastern border.
The first partnership includes Airbus Defence & Space and Quantum Systems, while the second brings together two fast-growing German defense startups: Helsing and Arx Robotics.
The message is clear: Germany wants cutting-edge tech, and it wants it fast.
Foreign Companies Get a Rare Slice
One of the few non-German firms to secure a deal is Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace of Norway. The company will supply missiles for Germany’s fleet of F-35 fighter jets under a contract worth €445 million.
The Biggest Conventional Army in Europe?
Since Russia’s assault on Ukraine in 2022, Germany has launched an unprecedented rearmament effort, reversing decades of military restraint. Chancellor Merz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius have repeatedly vowed to rebuild the Bundeswehr into Europe’s largest and most capable conventional force.
Next week’s closed-session vote in the Bundestag will be a decisive step toward that goal — and a clear signal to Moscow, NATO allies, and the world that Germany is rearming at speed and scale not seen in generations.