BERLIN \u2014 Germany\u2019s parliamentary budget committee has approved 11 major defense procurement projects worth more than \u20ac2.5 billion ($3 billion), bringing the country\u2019s tally on equipment spending for 2025 to over \u20ac33 billion across 73 major projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dec. 3 approval includes a significant expansion of the Bundeswehr\u2019s G95 assault rifle order, additional Joint Strike Missile purchases for future F-35A fighters and new artificial intelligence-powered surveillance systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among the more novel systems approved is URANOS AI, an artificial intelligence-powered surveillance platform designed to process large volumes of reconnaissance data from drones, satellites and radar stations along NATO\u2019s eastern flank. The system will initially be integrated into Germany\u2019s brigade in Lithuania \u2212 Panzerbrigade 45 \u2212 with plans to eventually equip all German army brigades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The AI system reflects growing German interest in autonomous battlefield intelligence following the employment of such capabilities in the Ukraine war.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The committee also approved continued procurement of Kongsberg\u2019s Joint Strike Missile for Germany\u2019s incoming F-35A fighters, building on an initial order placed jointly with Norway in June. The long-range cruise missile is designed to be carried internally in the F-35\u2019s weapons bay so as not to disturb the fighter\u2019s stealth capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additional approvals include a framework contract for \u201ca high three-digit number\u201d of Aladin reconnaissance drones for close-range surveillance, more than 1,700 military all-terrain vehicles, and heavy transport trailers capable of moving Leopard 2 main battle tanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under German law, approval by the parliamentary budget committee is required for procurement projects that will cost more than \u20ac25 million ($29 million).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The top ticket item in the latest shopping spree is the Bundeswehr\u2019s expanded procurement of the G95 rifle system \u2212 Heckler & Koch\u2019s HK416A8 model \u2212 beyond the approximately 120,000 units initially approved in late 2022. Bloomberg reported last week that the new order could bring the total to as many as 250,000 rifles, though the Defense Ministry has not disclosed the exact number.\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The ministry also approved procurement of laser light modules that enable the G95 to be used with night vision goggles in low-visibility conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year\u2019s spending surge comes as part of Germany\u2019s declared goal of making the Bundeswehr Europe\u2019s most powerful conventional army. This includes the expansion of the Bundeswehr to approximately 460,000 personnel \u2212 including up to 260,000 active troops \u2212 up from roughly 180,000 active soldiers currently. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has committed to raising defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2029, which would solidify Germany\u2019s position as the continent\u2019s top military spender.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Dec. 3 approval includes an expansion of the Bundeswehr\u2019s G95 assault rifle order, additional Joint Strike Missile purchases and new AI systems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":120376,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":46,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[160,46,11,36],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3463],"class_list":["post-72063","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-europe","category-global","category-newsletters"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"OGBULYJWMJAHXPDILJKPG7WAOQ","arc_canonical_url":"\/global\/europe\/2025\/12\/04\/new-projects-bring-german-2025-military-equipment-spending-near-40bn\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"\n