• Defence Notes

  German Air Force orders more Meteor missiles

  27th December 2019

  The German Air Force has ordered additional Meteor missiles from MBDA, the company announced on 20 December. The order, placed on 16 December, was issued …

• Digital Battlespace

  RUAG Missim systems for Germany

  11th December 2019

  RUAG has announced that it is supplying 16 Missim sensor test devices for helicopters to the German armed forces. The Missim system simulates a broad …

• Defence Helicopter

  First H145 SAR helicopter delivered to Germany

  11th December 2019

  The first H145 helicopter has been delivered to the German armed forces’ search and rescue service by Airbus Helicopters, the company announced on 10 December.Germany’s …

• Uncrewed Vehicles

  German Army orders C-UAS system

  4th December 2019

  Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has received a contract from the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment (BAAINBw) to deliver a Counter-UAS (C-UAS) system, the company announced …

• Training

  Saab to operate German Army’s GÜZ

  3rd December 2019

  Saab will operate the German Army’s Combat Training Centre, Gefechtsübungszentrum Heer (GÜZ) between 2020 and 2026 under a new contract announced on 2 December. The …

• Defence Helicopter

  Sikorsky, Rheinmetall lay out support hub plans

  30th October 2019

  Sikorsky and Rheinmetall have announced plans to set up a logistics and fleet management center at Leipzig/ Halle Airport if the Bundeswehr selects the CH-53K …

• Defence Helicopter

  Bundeswehr halts NH90 operations pending tail rotor checks

  21st October 2019

  The German Bundeswehr has taken the decision to halt operations with its NH90 helicopters delivered prior to 2018 due to issues with the tail rotor.As …

• Digital Battlespace

  Battle management modernisation efforts continue

  5th November 2019

  The German Army is modernising its battle management and communications systems which will enhance command and control, and situational awareness at the brigade, battalion, company …

• Defence Helicopter

  Airbus Helicopters delivers NH90 to Germany

  24th October 2019

  The first NH90 Sea Lion helicopter has been delivered to the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) by Airbus …

• Digital Battlespace

  Germany continues pursuit of Tactical Edge Networking

  1st November 2019

  The German Army continues to consider requirements to support its next-generation tactical communications programme with industry sources suggesting the effort remains a ‘very fluent process’.  …

• Defence Notes

  US fighter jet crashes in Germany

  8th October 2019

  An American F-16 fighter jet crashed and its pilot ejected to safety near the city of Trier in western Germany on Tuesday, the German air …

• Defence Helicopter

  Support contract awarded for German NH90 fleet

  29th August 2019

  Germany’s NH90 rotorcraft fleet will be supported by a new 10-year contract signed on 28 August between the government and two domestic suppliers. The Federal …

• Naval Warfare

  Rheinmetall, MBDA to develop naval laser

  8th August 2019

  Rheinmetall and MBDA Deutschland will collaborate on the development of a laser demonstrator for the German Navy’s K130 corvette. The companies will jointly construct, integrate …

• Defence Helicopter

  Germany switches to private mode for heavy-lift helicopter competition

  2nd August 2019

  The German Federal Ministry of Defence (MoD) has privately handed RfP solicitations for its heavy-lift helicopter programme to Sikorsky and Boeing, Shephard can exclusively reveal.  The …

• Land Warfare

  Rheinmetall to modernise Puma for NATO VJTF 2023

  23rd July 2019

  Germany’s defence procurement office has awarded a contract to the ARGE Puma consortium for the System Panzergrenadier Very High Joint Readiness Task Force 2023 (VJTF …

Programme Results - Defence Insight

• LTVs - 4x4

  Wolf 2 [Germany]

  Programme Background The Wolf 2 was designed by Mercedes-Benz to replace the German Bundeswehr's ageing fleet of Wolf utility vehicles. The Bundeswehr is currently replacing its ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Micro UAVs [Germany]

  Background Drone Plans In mid-2025, as has been reported by outlets such as Loyal Magazine, the Bundeswehr presented plans to expand its UAV inventory. It ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Additional Type 212CD (3-6) [Germany]

  The German Navy's 'Force Structure Goals 2035+' foresees between six and nine Type 212CD in service after 2035, meaning between four and seven new submarines could ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Additional Type 212CD (3-6) [Germany]

  The German Navy's 'Force Structure Goals 2035+' foresees between six and nine Type 212CD in service after 2035, meaning between four and seven new submarines could ...

• Naval: Combat Management Systems

  Naval: Combat Management Systems | Additional Type 212CD (7-9) [Germany]

  The German Navy's 'Force Structure Goals 2035+' foresees between six and nine Type 212CD in service after 2035, meaning between four and seven new submarines ...

• Naval: shipboard communication systems

  Naval: shipboard communication systems | Additional Type 212CD (7-9) [Germany]

  The German Navy's 'Force Structure Goals 2035+' foresees between six and nine Type 212CD in service after 2035, meaning between four and seven new submarines ...

• Main battle tanks

  Leopard 2A8 [Germany]

  Programme Background Germany has operated the domestically produced Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Leopard 2 since its inception in the 1970s. Spanning now eight versions, the Leopard 2A8 is the ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Eagle V 4x4 [Germany]

  Programme Background Since 2022, Germany has significantly increased its defence spending in an effort to rejuvenate the Bundeswehr. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that he ...

• MPVs - 4x4

  Eagle V 6x6 [Germany]

  Programme Background Since 2022, Germany has significantly increased its defence spending in an effort to rejuvenate the Bundeswehr. Chancellor Friedrich Merz has stated that he ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Puma IFV (Batch 2) [Germany]

  Programme Background The contract award for the second batch of Pumas had been delayed until 2022 at the earliest. However, in April 2021, German media ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  HUSAR (2017 Order) [Germany]

  Programme Background Requirement In 2015, the German Army launched the HUSAR programme to identify a replacement for its Airbus Defence & Space KZO and first-generation ...

• APCs/IFVs - tracked

  Puma IFV (Batch 3) [Germany]

  Programme Background The contract award for Germany's second batch of Pumas was originally scheduled for 2021, following the final deliveries of Germany's first batch. However, in ...

• APCs/IFVs - 8x8

  Boxer (Skyranger) [Germany]

  Programme Background The SPD-led approach Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany has been under consistent pressure to increase its defence spending. In the ...

• Loitering munitions

  Testing Loitering Munitions [Germany]

  Background Three Tested Models In April 2023, Germany reportedly ordered three different loitering munition systems to assess further their suitability for use by the German Armed ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  FALKE (2022-2023) [Germany]

  Background Inception In November 2022, the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) published details on its desire to award a ...

Equipment Results - Defence Insight

• LTVs - 4x4

  Wolf 2

  The Wolf 2 is an off-road vehicle designed by Mercedes-Benz for use by the German Bundeswehr. The first prototypes were delivered in November 2024 for ...

• Construction vehicles

  G-LTM 1090-4.2 armoured mobile crane

  Liebherr has manufactured more than 800 military cranes with lifting capacities from 10 to 500t since 1977. In June 2017, Germany’s Federal Office of Bundeswehr ...

• Self-propelled guns

  Gepard

  The Gepard was developed from 1963 to meet a German Army requirement for a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun (SPAAG) that could support its armoured forces. The ...

• Land: soldier modernisation systems - national programmes

  Gladius/IdZ

  Gladius is the latest iteration of the Infantryman of the Future (Infanterist der Zukunft or IdZ) project. In 2009, Rheinmetall was awarded a contract to ...

• APCs/IFVs - 6x6

  Piranha V 6x6

  The Piranha V, the latest member of the Piranha family of wheeled armoured fighting vehicles, introduced a vehicle in the upper weight class. Unveiled in ...

• Helicopter engines

  T64

  The T64 is a turboshaft/turboprop engine that has now accumulated over 11 million flight hours of operation. The T64 engine was designed to power rotary- ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range, Self-propelled missile systems

  IRIS-T Surface Launched (SL) system

  The IRIS-T Surface Launched (SL) system is designed to provide 360° protection against attacks from aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, cruise missiles, guided weapons and rockets. The ...

• Military UAS - mini, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  AR100-H

  The AR100-H is a German rotary-wing drone manufactured by AirRobot, part of the Nordic Unmanned group. The drone features a modular configuration and custom control software and ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  R-350

  The R-350 is an ITAR-free, rotary-wing VTOL TUAV. It contains a jet-turbine engine propulsion system. This allows it to use heavy fuels, meaning the R-350 ...

• Land: air defence radar

  Passive Radar

  The Passive Radar detects airborne and sea targets by detecting disturbances to civilian FM radio, DAB and DVB-T transmissions in the VHF range. When receiving ...

• Military UAS - rotary-wing, Military UAS - tactical

  Grille

  The Grille 9X DRONEVAC, or Cricket, is an uncrewed multicopter designed for MEDEVAC missions. Designed by Avilus, the UAV is meant to transport injured service personnel to safe ...

• Military UAS - fixed-wing, Military UAS - small

  Reliant

  The Reliant is a Quantum Systems VTOL-capable fixed-wing drone unveiled at the Special Operations Forces (SOF) Week Exhibition 2024. The hybrid drone is due to ...

• Medium Range Missile Defence Systems: 20-90km range

  TLVS

  The Taktisches Luftverteidigungssystem (TLVS), or Tactical Air Defence System, was an advanced air and missile defence initiative pursued by Germany to enhance its defensive capabilities ...

• Military UAS - micro, Military UAS - rotary-wing

  Black Hornet 4

  Unveiled at AUSA 2023, the Black Hornet 4 is a micro rotary-wing UAV from Teledyne FLIR. Compared to its predecessor, the drone is heavier, faster, ...

• Sealift/replenishment vessels

  Type 707

  The Type 707 is a new double-hulled fleet tanker for the German Navy. The ships are being procured to start replacing the Type 704 single-hulled ...