German army to be "fully operational" by 2029: Bundeswehr arms up amid Russian threat
The Bundeswehr's inspector general ordered the purchase of weapons, strengthening of air defences and an increase in ammunition stocks as soon as possible. All with an eye to a possible conflict with Russia by the end of the decade.
Here's What We Know
Carsten Breuer, Germany's chief military inspector, has signed a document outlining an action plan for the Bundeswehr for the next five years. By 2029, the German army should be fully equipped with weapons, equipment and everything necessary - at least to repel the threat from the East. The document is called "Priority Areas for Increasing Combat Readiness", and its implementation was made possible by easing the country's debt policy.
The document calls for a large-scale strengthening of air defence, in particular to protect against drones, which are increasingly used in conflicts. Both short-range systems and long-range systems such as the Patriot are a priority. In addition, the Bundeswehr must increase its capability for precision strikes at a distance of more than 500 km to be able to "get" the enemy deep behind the front line.
Another point is prosaic, but important: more ammunition depots are needed, because in a war of attrition, reserves are essential.
According to Reuters, NATO insists on quadrupling Germany's air defence capabilities. But Berlin does not rule out a worst-case scenario. According to Breuer and other NATO officials, Russia may well restore its army to a level sufficient to attack NATO by 2029.
Similar fears were voiced last autumn. In October 2024, Bruno Kahl, the head of German intelligence agency BND, warned: "The Kremlin sees the West, and Germany in particular, as an enemy, so it cannot rule out a possible conflict in the next few years. This is especially true given that Germany is the second largest supplier of aid to Ukraine.
Source: Reuters
