The publication of the German defense acquisition plan for 2026 has dominated discussions on German-language portals. The Berlin government has allocated a substantial 48 billion euros divided into 70 key projects. The goal is clear: to transform the Bundeswehr from a crisis management force into an army ready for high-intensity conventional defense. Highlights include the purchase of 188 new transmission systems for the Puma armored vehicle produced by RENK and the initiation of supply for the "Schwerer Waffenträger" (heavy carriers). This massive investment is pushing the German industry towards a war economy production capacity, despite resistance from parts of public opinion.
The rise of heavy mobility: RCH 155 and Ghost Bat
Two specific platforms have captured analysts' interest in the last 48 hours. The first is the wheeled self-propelled howitzer RCH 155, which is set to become the backbone of German mobile artillery thanks to its unique ability to fire on the move. The second is the joint offer from Rheinmetall and Boeing for the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, a "Loyal Wingman" drone intended to operate alongside Eurofighters and, in the future, the FCAS system. The inclusion of autonomous technologies in immediate purchase plans shows that Germany is not just buying "scrap metal," but is investing heavily in the concept of multidomain warfare.
The FCAS puzzle and European technological sovereignty
Despite major national purchases, the sixth-generation fighter project FCAS remains a sensitive issue between Paris and Berlin. Mediators are working to resolve disputes over intellectual property and the distribution of industrial work by mid-April. The French press emphasizes that the failure of this agreement could push Germany even further towards U.S. technological orbits (as already happened with the F-35). However, the new European "Sovereign Tech Fund," currently being discussed in Brussels, could offer financial support to keep alive the ambition of continental strategic autonomy.
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