Report: German Army Moves Toward Becoming Europe’s Largest and Most Modern Force.

On August 19, 2025, the German federal government confirmed to the Bundestag a budget proposal that places the Bundeswehr on a new path of modernization. According to the documents submitted to Parliament, the Ministry of Defense will receive in 2026 a regular budget of €82.7 billion, supplemented by €25.5 billion from the Bundeswehr Special Fund, for a total of €108.2 billion. This development, made possible by the suspension of the “debt brake,” aims to increase defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP by 2029, in line with NATO objectives.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

Germany is in advanced negotiations with Rheinmetall for the acquisition of 6,000 to 7,000 combat vehicles to equip several new brigades (Picture source: Bundeswehr)

The government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the creation of 10,000 additional military posts and 2,000 civilian jobs in 2026, along with 20,000 temporary positions under the new military service scheme. Between 2027 and 2040, the ministry is requesting commitment authorizations totaling €325 billion, an unprecedented financial effort. Including 2025 and 2026, the total investment is expected to reach about €355 billion, with spending peaking in 2029 and 2030 at more than €52 billion per year.

The sectoral allocation highlights Berlin’s priorities: €70.3 billion for munitions, €52.5 billion for armored vehicles, €36.6 billion for naval systems, €34.2 billion for aircraft and missiles, €20.9 billion for vehicles and field equipment, €15.9 billion for communications, and €13.3 billion for space. These figures point to an effort to rebuild stockpiles, strengthen ground forces, and expand into new operational domains.

This budget trajectory is accompanied by a wave of large-scale contracts with German industry. According to Bild and Reuters, Germany is in advanced negotiations with Rheinmetall for the acquisition of 6,000 to 7,000 combat vehicles to equip several new brigades. The program is valued at around €70 billion over twelve months. Orders would include Leopard 2 tanks, Puma and Boxer armored vehicles, as well as the Finnish Patria under the European CAVS program. Bloomberg has reported even larger figures, mentioning up to 1,000 Leopard 2A8 tanks, 3,500 Patria 6x6s, and 3,000 to 3,500 Boxers, underscoring the scale of the rearmament plan.

The gap between current holdings and future ambitions shows the scale of the effort. Today’s inventory includes 313 Leopard 2 tanks, 680 infantry fighting vehicles (including 350 Pumas), and 802 armored personnel carriers (331 Boxers among them). Acquiring several thousand modern platforms would allow the creation of new mechanized brigades ready for rapid deployment on NATO’s eastern flank.

The platforms selected illustrate the modernization underway. The Leopard 2A8, fitted with the Trophy active protection system and a 120 mm cannon, enhances survivability against high-intensity threats. The Puma IFV combines firepower, modular armor, and the MUSS 2.0 active protection system. The Boxer, developed by the ARTEC consortium, is a modular 8x8 platform that can serve as troop transport, command post, or medical evacuation vehicle. The Patria AMV 6x6, not yet in service with the Bundeswehr, offers amphibious mobility and reinforced protection within a European framework.

German plans also extend beyond land forces. Reuters has reported that Berlin confirmed the acquisition of 20 additional Eurofighter Typhoons and is considering new missile and long-range air defense programs. Compared with France, the budgetary shift is striking: with €108.2 billion in 2026, Germany will spend far more than the €57.2 billion planned for Paris, despite the latter’s separate nuclear deterrence costs.

Personnel remains a central issue. A poll by the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland found that 59 percent of Germans would not be willing to defend their country with arms, while 27 percent consider an attack on Germany within the next five years plausible. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Defense reported a 28 percent increase in recruitment between January and July 2025, bringing troop strength to 183,100 soldiers. The stated goal is to surpass 200,000 by 2030 to match the planned material expansion.

Germany is thus breaking with the strategic restraint that has characterized its defense policy since the end of the Cold War. With spending approaching 5 percent of GDP and the prospect of thousands of new armored vehicles, Berlin is embracing a new military trajectory. In the face of continuing Russian threats and uncertainty over long-term American support, accelerated rearmament is seen as essential to ensure deterrence and reinforce NATO’s European pillar.