German Armed Forces Procurement 2025: Questions and Answers on the Secret Shopping List

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Published on: September 7, 2025 / Updated on: September 7, 2025 – Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

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81 procurements under wraps: What the Bundestag now has to decide

What are the German Armed Forces' plans for 2025?

Which procurement projects are on the secret list? The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) are planning to procure 81 major armaments projects for 2025, which are to be submitted to the Budget Committee of the Bundestag for approval. This list, classified as "Confidential – For Official Use Only," from the Ministry of Defense includes projects each worth more than 25 million euros. Eight projects have already been forwarded to the Budget and Defense Committee, and 73 more are expected to follow by the end of December.

How does procurement compare to previous years? With 81 projects, the German Armed Forces remain just below the record high of 2024, when 97 major armaments projects were approved. These figures illustrate the intensive procurement activity of the German Armed Forces in a time of heightened security requirements due to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

What does the 25 million euro limit mean? All procurement projects of the German Armed Forces with an investment volume of 25 million euros or more require the separate approval of the Budget Committee of the German Bundestag before the contract can be concluded. The Federal Ministry of Defense forwards its contribution to the Federal Ministry of Finance, which then prepares a corresponding proposal for the members of parliament.

Which main systems are on the list?

Which fighter jets are being procured? The German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) are planning to acquire a fifth tranche of Eurofighter combat jets. This expansion of the existing Eurofighter fleet is intended to further strengthen Germany's air defense capabilities. In addition, the procurement of laser target designators for the Eurofighter is planned at a cost of €358 million.

What are the plans for helicopters? Under an existing framework agreement, the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) intend to procure Airbus H145M light attack helicopters. They plan to acquire a total of 62 of these helicopters. The first H145M was delivered in November 2024, and the remaining 61 are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2028. The total cost for up to 82 H145M helicopters amounts to over 4 billion euros.

Which armored vehicles are being procured? The list includes both Boxer wheeled armored vehicles and Puma infantry fighting vehicles. €3.9 billion has been earmarked for the GTK Boxer RCT30 wheeled infantry fighting vehicles. These are intended to equip the grenadiers of the newly established "Medium Forces" category. Additionally, another batch of Puma infantry fighting vehicles is to be procured from an existing framework agreement.

What innovative technologies are being developed?

What is the Uranos AI project? A particularly innovative undertaking is the development of an AI-supported system for monitoring large areas on NATO's eastern flank. The "Uranos AI" project aims to develop a kind of digital command post where AI-processed data from radars, drones, cameras, satellites, lasers, and other reconnaissance units converges in real time. Starting in 2026, the brigade strengthening the eastern flank in Lithuania is to be equipped with the system. The contract value is estimated at approximately 80 million euros.

Who is applying for the AI project? Three defense companies and two drone startups are participating in the confidential tender for Uranos AI. The applicants include Airbus, Rheinmetall, and Hensoldt, as well as the drone specialists Quantum Systems and Helsing. The submitted concepts vary considerably in quality, and there are reportedly already favorites to win the contract.

What laser weapons are being developed? The development of a high-precision laser weapon system for the navy is also on the agenda. The German Armed Forces have already gained extensive experience with laser weapons: A laser weapon demonstrator was successfully tested on the frigate "Sachsen" from June 2022 to September 2023 and proved its worth in more than 100 test firings. The cooperation between Rheinmetall and MBDA Germany will continue to develop a joint maritime laser product for drone defense.

What problems are there with procurement?

What are the difficulties with the Type 126 frigate? The Type 126 frigate project is experiencing significant problems. A "contract adjustment" is planned, as the project is already outside the planned time and budget constraints. Budget officials have imposed a spending freeze on the €671 million allocated for this year. The delivery of the first frigate, originally scheduled for 2028, is now expected to be delayed until at least 2031. The Dutch contractor Damen has reported delivery delays due to problems with IT interfaces in its proprietary design and manufacturing software.

What costs and risks are involved? The delays with the F126 frigate could extend to up to four years. A project cancellation would raise legal and political challenges, as some of the funds could be reclaimed. Alternatively, construction plans or hull sections already begun could be used for other programs.

How is the defense budget developing?

What sums are available? The defense budget for 2025 will increase by approximately €10 billion compared to 2024, reaching around €62.43 billion. In addition, expenditures of approximately €24 billion are planned from the special fund for the German Armed Forces. This brings the total available to the German Armed Forces in 2025 to more than €86 billion.

How are the long-term plans developing? The key figures for the coming years foresee that budget line 14 will increase to €82.69 billion in 2026, €93.35 billion in 2027, €136.48 billion in 2028, and €152.83 billion in 2029. This substantial increase demonstrates the long-term focus on significantly strengthening defense capabilities.

What does the new procurement law mean? The new Planning and Procurement Acceleration Act is scheduled to come into force at the beginning of 2026. It expands upon an initial law from 2022 and aims to ensure that equipment and materiel reach the troops more quickly. The requirement for public tenders for defense contracts will be relaxed, and legal challenges will no longer have suspensive effect.

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Which air defense systems are being procured?

What are the plans for Iris-T and Patriot? The procurement of guided missiles for the Iris-T and Patriot air defense systems is on the agenda. The Iris-T SLM system can engage targets at ranges of up to 40 kilometers and altitudes of up to 20 kilometers. It uses the Iris-T SL surface-to-air missile and achieves speeds of approximately 1020 m/s (Mach 3).

What further developments are there? Diehl Defence is developing the next evolutionary stage with Iris-T SLX, which, thanks to a new dual-pulse motor, is expected to achieve a range of around 80 kilometers at an altitude of 30 kilometers. This system is intended not only for air defense but also for engaging ground targets.

How does the Patriot procurement process work? Four new Patriot systems can also be ordered with corresponding guided missiles. The Patriot system carries the Pac-2 and Pac-3 guided missiles, which are up to 5.31 meters long and weigh 907 kilograms. Only Patriot can engage strategic ballistic missiles, making its interceptors significantly more expensive than those of the Iris-T.

What personnel changes are planned?

How will personnel develop? The 2025 budget will create approximately 10,000 additional military and 1,000 civilian positions. This will allow for more promotions and greater flexibility for entry-level positions in the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces). In the long term, the number of active-duty soldiers is to be increased by at least 60,000, and the number of reservists is to rise to 240,000.

Why is the increase in personnel necessary? The new equipment needs to be operated, ports guarded, and troops supplied. The Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) needs not only better equipment but also personnel. This increase in personnel is a fundamental prerequisite for implementing the ambitious procurement plans.

What international aspects need to be considered?

How does this fit with NATO strategy? NATO has agreed to increase its defense spending to five percent of gross domestic product by 2035 – 3.5 percent for military expenditures and a further 1.5 percent for militarily usable infrastructure. These decisions are a “historic milestone” and the right response to the threat posed by an aggressive Russia.

What European collaborations exist? The Boxer project is being implemented through the European defense agency OCCAR. In addition to Germany, the Netherlands also intends to acquire 72 wheeled infantry fighting vehicles. These larger quantities can lower the vehicle price and increase interoperability.

How can procurement be accelerated?

What new procedures are there? The expanded Procurement Acceleration Act now applies to all contracts to meet the needs of the German Armed Forces – that is, in addition to military needs, also all civilian needs such as medical supplies and construction work. Larger contracts no longer need to be divided into smaller tenders.

What will change in the tendering process? Procurement will be accelerated and the burden on contracting authorities reduced by amended administrative regulations for awarding public contracts. The production of weapons, ammunition, and war materiel within Germany will be given priority, as it represents a "significant security interest.".

How will bureaucracy be reduced? Together, the two projects will generate savings of approximately €23 million for the federal government and €6.9 million for businesses. The new project will significantly speed up procurement for the German Armed Forces.

What challenges exist?

What are the timing issues? Following the budget approval in the second half of September, the provisional budget management also ends for the Bundeswehr's procurement officers. The 73 additional planned projects can then be submitted to the Budget Committee for approval by the end of December.

What are the industry challenges? There is intense discussion about whether the strong lobby of established “heavy metal” companies like Rheinmetall, KNDS or Airbus Defence can prevail, or whether start-ups like Anduril, Helsing or Quantum Systems will open up new avenues in software-driven defense as serious challengers.

How will the financing be secured?

What role does the special fund play? A total of €24.06 billion is to flow from the special fund in 2025 alone, of which €21.64 billion is earmarked for military procurement. The new constitutional amendment suspends the debt brake for all defense and security expenditures exceeding one percent of gross domestic product.

What does unlimited debt mean? Germany can theoretically invest unlimited amounts of money in defense, civil protection, intelligence services, and cybersecurity. The debt brake now only applies to a portion of these expenditures; everything beyond that can be financed through loans without restriction. In addition, a new special fund of €500 billion is to be established.

The German Armed Forces' comprehensive procurement plan for 2025 illustrates the transformation of the German armed forces from an army primarily focused on foreign deployments to one centered on national and collective defense. With 81 planned major projects, innovative technologies such as AI-supported surveillance and laser weapons, and a record budget of over €86 billion, this classified shopping list documents the shift in German security policy in times of heightened threats. At the same time, problems with projects like the F126 frigate highlight the ongoing challenges in implementing complex armaments projects. Accelerated procurement and constitutional amendments to the debt brake create a new framework for a faster modernization of the Bundeswehr, while the balance between established arms manufacturers and innovative startups will shape the future of the German defense industry.

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