Germany sets 2029 deadline for enhanced military readiness

• The Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, Carsten Breuer, has declared that by 2029, the German military should be fully outfitted with weapons and necessary materials.
• Enhancing protection against aerial threats, including integrated missile and air defence, is of utmost importance.
• The German parliament has approved legislation that permits increased spending on the military, civil defence, and cybersecurity, surpassing 1% of GDP without budgetary restrictions.

Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, Carsten Breuer, has set a target for the German military to be fully equipped with weapons and materials by 2029. The document Breuer signed on 19 May outlines that this goal will be reached through the funds made available by easing the country's debt brake.

The Bundeswehr aims to significantly improve its air defence capabilities by the decade's end, with enhancing air and missile defence being a crucial objective. The document highlights that the primary focus will be on defending against incoming drones and drone swarms. Additionally, the Bundeswehr intends to purchase and stockpile more ammunition, with plans also to acquire combat drones.

In March, the German parliament reformed the so-called "debt brake," allowing for increased defence spending. Defence expenditures exceeding 1% of GDP will not face budgetary constraints, enabling loans to be taken to finance them. This change will facilitate the Bundeswehr's acquisition of more ammunition and combat drones.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius emphasises that the Bundeswehr must be "ready for war" by 2029. The changes in funding and the focus on air defence are designed to enhance the effectiveness of the German military.