Pilatus has handed over its first PC-12 to the Technical and Airworthiness Center for Aircraft and Aeronautical Equipment of the German Armed Forces (WTD 61). The versatile single-engine turboprop will be used for training test pilots and transporting personnel and material at the Ingolstadt/Manching air base in Germany.
In a provocative opinion piece published in Handelsblatt, leading German labor union IG Metall and aerospace industry association BDLI called for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program to be scrapped. The authors proposed establishing their own future fighter jet program and seeking partners who wish to participate.
The German Navy has taken delivery of its first NH90 Sea Tiger helicopter, marking an important milestone in the country's efforts to modernize its rotary-wing capabilities. According to AeroTime, Airbus Helicopters announced the handover on December 16, 2025.
The German Navy has welcomed its first NH90 Sea Tiger helicopter delivery at Nordholz air station, marking a significant upgrade in anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare capability. Airbus Helicopters handed over the aircraft on behalf of joint venture NH Industries (NHI), manufacturer of the rotorcraft.
Germany is set to acquire 20 additional Airbus H145M helicopters worth €931 million ($1 billion) as part of its military modernization efforts. The funding proposal will be presented to the Bundestag's budget committee in 2026.
The German Ministry of Defence has awarded a €1.7 billion contract to Finnish firm ICEYE and German defense contractor Rheinmetall for the development of a new synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite constellation. The contract runs from 2025 to 2030 with options to extend, according to Breaking Defense reports.
Germany's Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) has awarded Polaris a contract for the development and operation of a two-stage, fully reusable hypersonic research vehicle. The HYTEV program is intended to provide the Bundeswehr with a dedicated testbed for defense-related research and scientific experimentation.
Germany's newly appointed Air Force chief, Lieutenant General Holger Neumann, has indicated Berlin may pursue alternative fighter aircraft options if the troubled Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program continues facing delays. In a Der Spiegel interview, Neumann emphasized that Germany's priority is building a highly networked force centered on combat cloud technology and unmanned systems, rather than any specific crewed fighter platform.
Germany has launched production of the Taurus Neo cruise missile with MBDA, a European missile manufacturer. The contract is linked to Germany's next-generation air-launched cruise missile and aims to prepare serial production.
Germany has placed an order for eight General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones to support its maritime patrol aircraft missions. The German Armed Forces aim to protect sea lanes and critical infrastructure with the new fleet, which will be operated by Naval Air Wing 3 at Nordholz naval station in Saxony.
Germany has exercised an option to acquire 20 more Airbus H145M light combat helicopters, bringing the total number of aircraft ordered under its framework agreement with Airbus Helicopters to 82 units. The decision follows a contract signed in December 2023 and deliveries began in November 2024.
Germany has ordered more Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles from MBDA, continuing the six-nation European program's development. This contract was placed through the Meteor Integrated Joint Programme Office on behalf of Germany's Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support.
Germany has ordered eight MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems to enhance its maritime patrol posture. The Bundeswehr confirmed the purchase in January 2026, with first systems expected to enter service from 2028.
Germany has selected Munich-based defense software company Helsing to support its Eurofighter EK program with an artificial-intelligence-enabled electronic warfare suite, marking one of the most significant attempts yet to integrate advanced AI into a front-line European combat aircraft. The program teams Helsing with Saab, which supplies its Arexis electronic warfare system, under a contract intended to replace Germany's retiring Tornado ECR fleet.
Germany has officially received the first operational Arrow 3 air defense system from Israel in a historic delivery that marks the largest defense export deal in Israeli history. The $4 billion contract, finalized in late 2023, represents a significant milestone in Israel-Germany defense cooperation.
Germany has released its first-ever national security space strategy, which envisions a plethora of new military capabilities to boost Berlin's capacity to act independently in space. The initiative draws heavily on lessons from Ukraine and aims to enhance Germany's deterrence and defense capabilities as well as those of NATO Allies and European partners.
Germany is considering a follow-on purchase of more than 35 additional F-35 stealth fighters, according to Reuters sources. This move would take Berlin's planned fleet to over 70 aircraft and further anchor the Luftwaffe's modernization to US technology.
Germany's fast-track strike drone hunt has slowed as the Luftwaffe shortlist takes shape. The procurement effort has gained an extra review round involving three candidates for further evaluation.
Airbus Defence and Space's works council in Germany has renewed its call to end the partnership with Dassault on the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), citing ongoing disagreements over workshare and responsibilities. The union is seeking clear-cut arrangements, while German officials have indicated that a choice must be made on whether and how the program proceeds.
Germany's Helsing and HENSOLDT are collaborating on an autonomous systems project for Euro CCA, with a focus on AI-enabled combat air systems. The CA-1 aircraft will be upgraded with the AI agent Centaur, while HENSOLDT will provide sensor technologies.