Germany is embarking on one of its largest military expansions in modern history, preparing to place multi-billion-euro orders for fighter jets, armored vehicles, and advanced warfare technologies as it seeks to build Europe’s most powerful conventional force.
According to multiple defense and government sources, Berlin plans to purchase around 20 Eurofighter jets, up to 5,000 Boxer armored vehicles, and approximately 3,500 Patria infantry fighting vehicles. The total fleet of armored units may reach 8,500 as Germany accelerates its push to modernize and expand the Bundeswehr. These acquisitions are expected to cost over €25 billion, with further deals still under negotiation.
This dramatic scale-up is part of Germany's broader strategic shift following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ongoing global instability.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s administration aims to raise military spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2029—more than doubling the defense budget from €83 billion in 2026 to an estimated €162 billion within four years.
To support this transformation, the government has introduced major procurement reforms, streamlining bureaucracy and easing regulations for military construction and purchasing. A draft law under consideration would simplify approval processes, raise thresholds for direct contracts, and extend defense-specific emergency measures for the next decade.
Beyond conventional weapons, Germany is also pouring resources into emerging military technologies. These include battlefield drones, autonomous robotic units, artificial intelligence systems, underwater surveillance tools, and even experimental bio-mimicry platforms like “spy cockroaches.”
Startups such as Helsing are leading these innovation efforts, supported by growing defense-tech investment funds.
Berlin’s strategy includes enhancing international defense cooperation. In July 2025, Germany and the United Kingdom signed a defense export treaty that covers shared production and global sales of platforms like the Eurofighter, Airbus A400M transport aircraft, and Boxer vehicles. This agreement is expected to strengthen industrial ties while ensuring both nations remain competitive in a changing global arms market.
Over 60 procurement proposals are expected to be submitted to the German parliament before the end of the year, as the country accelerates defense readiness amid shifting geopolitical dynamics. Deliveries are anticipated to roll out over the next decade, forming the backbone of a rearmed and restructured Bundeswehr.
Germany’s expansive defense agenda signals a historic turning point, positioning the country not only as a cornerstone of European security but also as a rising force in global military innovation.