Especially for ammunition manufacturers, the German Ministry of Defense is planning a remarkably long-term procurement horizon—up to the year 2037—with over €20 billion allocated for that period.
These figures are outlined in the draft German federal budget for 2025 (not yet approved), which has become available to the outlet Hartpunkt. For 2025 alone, €3.05 billion is planned for ammunition from the main budget, with an additional €1.65 billion from the special fund. This totals €4.7 billion in ammunition spending for just one year—€1.2 billion more than in 2024.For the period from 2026 to 2037, a total of €17.3 billion is to be allocated, distributed unevenly across the years. Peak spending is expected in 2028 (€2.9 billion) and 2029 (€2.46 billion).
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As the outlet notes, the exact types of ammunition are not specified, and it’s unclear whether this includes surface-to-air missiles or interceptors for the Israeli Arrow 3 missile defense system, whose first elements Germany expects to receive by the end of 2025.
Nevertheless, the planned figures—which still require parliamentary approval—are monumental. Altogether, from 2025 to 2037, the total amounts to €22 billion. This is a clear response to a recurring concern from European ammunition manufacturers: while demand for shells and missiles is currently high, there are no guarantees it will remain so in the future to justify large-scale investment in production expansion.
Now, however, there is a clearer picture: Germany alone is poised to maintain a multibillion-euro annual ammunition market over a 12-year horizon. These funds will either be absorbed by European manufacturers—or benefit others.
It’s also worth noting another telling purchase in the same draft defense budget: a massive €3.9 billion procurement of Boxer wheeled combat vehicles. This indicates a significant planned expansion of the Bundeswehr. With such funding, 600–700 units could be acquired—more than enough to replace even all 330 Marder infantry fighting vehicles currently in service.
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