Germany Unveils €377Bn Plan to Build Europe’s Strongest Conventional Army

Germany is set to radically modernise the Bundeswehr under a €377Bn defense overhaul spanning land, air, sea, space, and cyber, according to internal government plans. The roadmap lists ~320 acquisition projects for the 2026 budget cycle, with 178 already tied to contractors and a heavy emphasis on German industry.

Rheinmetall emerges as the biggest beneficiary, appearing in 53 lines worth €88Bn, including armored programs that foresee 687 Puma IFVs (662 combat, 25 training) delivered by 2035. Air defense is a core focus: the military plans 561 Skyranger 30 counter-drone turrets and €4.2Bn in IRIS-T systems and missiles (14 SLM systems, 396 SLM missiles, 300 LFK).

Unmanned and maritime capabilities will expand with more Heron TP drones, 12 LUNA NG tactical UAVs, and four uMAWS maritime drones. Space spending tops €14Bn, including a €9.5Bn low-Earth-orbit constellation for resilient communications.

Select foreign buys remain pivotal: 15 F-35s (~€2.5Bn) for nuclear sharing, 400 Tomahawk Block Vb missiles (€1.15Bn) with three Typhon launchers (€220Mln), and four P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft (~€1.8Bn). Foreign-linked items total roughly €14Bn—under 5% of the plan.

The force will expand from three to six divisions (four mechanized, one air-mobile, one home defense) with 80K additional personnel, advancing Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s goal of creating Europe’s strongest conventional army.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Uzbekistan plans to establish Geological Competence Centre with Colorado School of Mines.