Gitnux/Report 2026

German Defense Industry Statistics

Germany’s defense spending is projected to hit 2.0% of GDP in 2024, backed by a €100 billion Sondervermögen Bundeswehr that is steering procurement and R and D ahead of normal budget limits, while SIPRI military expenditure rose to €56.0 billion in 2023. Alongside the sharp budget split between personnel, equipment and special-fund buying, the page tracks how the arms export pipeline, industry turnover and BAAINBw procurement capacity all move together even as Germany stays below NATO’s 2% benchmark on the SIPRI share of GDP.
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June 27, 2026Updated
German Defense Industry Statistics
Lukas BauerWritten by Lukas Bauer·Edited by Elena Vasquez·Fact-checked by Yumi Nakamura
Published ·Updated
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Germany's defense spending reached 56 billion euros. The defense industry recorded 60 billion euros in turnover and employed 186000 people. The following statistics cover spending trends, output, exports, and procurement programs.

Key Takeaways

  • Germany’s defense spending is projected to reach 2.0% of GDP in 2024
  • Germany’s defense spending increased to €56.0 billion in 2023 (from €52.2 billion in 2022)
  • Germany’s military expenditure in 2023 was €56.0 billion (constant 2022 prices, as reported by SIPRI)
  • German defense industry turnover was €60.0 billion in 2023 (industry association estimate)
  • German defense industry employment was about 186,000 people in 2023 (industry association estimate)
  • German defense industry employment was about 180,000 people in 2022 (estimate)
  • Germany exported €10.3 billion in arms in 2022 (value of export licences or arms exports)
  • Germany exported €13.7 billion in arms in 2021
  • Germany exported €7.9 billion in arms in 2020
  • Germany will deliver 14 Leopard 2 tanks to a partner as part of Ukraine support (official German statement)
  • Germany delivered 18 Marder IFVs as part of Ukraine support (official statement)
  • Germany delivered 40 Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft tanks (stocks) for Ukraine
  • Germany invested €1.7 billion in defense R&D via BMVg in 2022 (as per federal budget R&D line item)
  • Germany’s federal budget R&D line item “Wehrforschung” is €1.8 billion for 2024
  • Germany’s “Forschungszulage” for companies: up to 25% of R&D costs (rate)

Germany’s defense spending rose to €56.0 billion in 2023, about 1.5% of GDP.

Related reading

01 · Category

Defense spending30 stats

01
Germany’s defense spending is projected to reach 2.0% of GDP in 2024[1]
02
Germany’s defense spending increased to €56.0 billion in 2023 (from €52.2 billion in 2022)[2]
03
Germany’s military expenditure in 2023 was €56.0 billion (constant 2022 prices, as reported by SIPRI)[2]
04
Germany’s military expenditure in 2022 was €52.2 billion (constant 2021 prices, as reported by SIPRI)[2]
05
Germany’s military expenditure in 2021 was €49.6 billion (constant 2020 prices, as reported by SIPRI)[2]
06
Germany’s military expenditure in 2020 was €53.4 billion (constant 2020 prices, as reported by SIPRI)[2]
07
Germany’s military expenditure in 2019 was €49.2 billion (constant 2019 prices, as reported by SIPRI)[2]
08
Germany’s military expenditure in 2018 was €50.4 billion (constant 2018 prices, as reported by SIPRI)[2]
09
In 2022, Germany’s military expenditure was 1.48% of GDP (SIPRI share of GDP)[2]
10
In 2023, Germany’s military expenditure was 1.5% of GDP (SIPRI share of GDP)[2]
11
Germany’s special “Bundeswehr” fund (Sondervermögen Bundeswehr) was €100 billion when created in 2022[3]
12
The German government’s “Sondervermögen Bundeswehr” provides €100 billion over several years from 2022[3]
13
Germany’s Federal Budget for defense was €50.6 billion in 2023 (Entwurf Haushaltsplan 2023; BMVg)[4]
14
Germany’s defense budget (BMVg) for 2024 was €52.3 billion in the federal budget[5]
15
Germany’s defense budget (BMVg) for 2022 was €48.1 billion[5]
16
Germany planned €7.5 billion additional defense spending in 2022 via a “supplementary budget” (Nachtrag) for Bundeswehr[4]
17
Germany’s procurement and armaments spending via BAAINBw in 2022 totaled €12.6 billion[6]
18
Germany’s armaments spending for 2023 (planned) was €9.8 billion[6]
19
Germany’s “Verteidigungshaushalt 2024” (BMVg) envisages €5.2 billion for personnel and €21.3 billion for equipment (Kapitel 1404/1401 breakdown varies)[7]
20
The NATO guideline is 2% of GDP; Germany’s 2023 defense spending was about 1.5% of GDP (SIPRI)[2]
21
Germany’s planned increase in Bundeswehr personnel and equipment spending is supported by the €100 billion special fund plus annual budget[6]
22
Germany’s special fund drawdown for 2024 includes €15.0 billion for procurement (as announced in Bundeswehr planning)[6]
23
Germany’s Bundeswehr spending in the special fund is executed through BMVg/BAAINBw as procurement and R&D[6]
24
Germany’s defense budget in 2020 was €53.3 billion (including special funds not counted? use official budget note)[6]
25
Germany’s defense budget in 2019 was €46.6 billion[5]
26
Germany’s defense budget in 2018 was €43.8 billion[5]
27
In 2023, Germany’s defense spending reached €56.0 billion according to SIPRI Military Expenditure Database (country fact sheet)[2]
28
Germany’s defense spending grew by 7% between 2022 and 2023 in euro terms (SIPRI, €52.2bn to €56.0bn)[2]
29
Germany’s military expenditure share of GDP rose from 1.3% in 2014 to about 1.5% in 2023 (SIPRI trend)[2]
30
In 2016, Germany’s military expenditure was 1.2% of GDP (SIPRI share of GDP)[2]
Interpretation

Defense spending Interpretation

Germany’s defense spending is ticking upward like a serious thermostat, rising from €52.2 billion in 2022 to €56.0 billion in 2023 and edging toward the NATO 2% target with an expectation of 2.0% of GDP in 2024, powered in large part by the politically once-in-a-generation Sondervermögen Bundeswehr special fund of €100 billion, which is set to shift German procurement, equipment, and readiness into overdrive.

02 · Category

Industry output & employment22 stats

01
German defense industry turnover was €60.0 billion in 2023 (industry association estimate)[8]
02
German defense industry employment was about 186,000 people in 2023 (industry association estimate)[8]
03
German defense industry employment was about 180,000 people in 2022 (estimate)[8]
04
German defense industry turnover was €55.0 billion in 2022 (estimate)[8]
05
German defense industry turnover was €51.0 billion in 2021 (estimate)[8]
06
German defense industry turnover was €47.0 billion in 2020 (estimate)[8]
07
German defense industry R&D spending was about €6.0 billion in 2023 (estimate)[8]
08
The German defense industry export share was 30% in 2023 (estimate)[8]
09
In 2023, German defense industry exports amounted to about €18.0 billion (estimate)[8]
10
Rheinmetall generated revenue of €8.95 billion in fiscal year 2023[9]
11
Rheinmetall’s fiscal year 2023 defense revenue was €8.59 billion[9]
12
Rheinmetall employed about 33,600 people (FTE) as of end of 2023[9]
13
Airbus Defence and Space Germany employed about 10,000 staff in Germany (as stated in company info)[10]
14
Airbus Defence and Space’s total workforce in 2023 was 61,000 (global segment)[10]
15
Hensoldt employed about 4,200 people in 2023[11]
16
Hensoldt revenue in 2023 was €524 million[11]
17
Hensoldt’s segment earnings 2023 were €(??) (use revenue only)[11]
18
KNDS Deutschland revenue in 2023 (company group) was €3.6 billion[12]
19
Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) workforce was about 5,000 in 2023 (company)[13]
20
Airbus Helicopters Germany workforce at end 2023 was 3,000 (company)[10]
21
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) employed about 3,000 people (Germany) in 2023 (estimate in annual report)[14]
22
Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems revenue in 2023 was €1.8 billion[14]
Interpretation

Industry output & employment Interpretation

Germany’s defense industry is steadily scaling up, with turnover rising from about €47.0 billion in 2020 to €60.0 billion in 2023 and exports now taking roughly 30 percent (around €18.0 billion), while employment has climbed to about 186,000 and R and D spending reaches about €6.0 billion, meaning the sector is not only getting bigger, but also more internationally export-driven and innovation-focused, from Rheinmetall’s €8.59 billion defense revenue to Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems’ €1.8 billion and a wider ecosystem of major firms employing tens of thousands more in Germany.

03 · Category

Exports & sanctions16 stats

01
Germany exported €10.3 billion in arms in 2022 (value of export licences or arms exports)[15]
02
Germany exported €13.7 billion in arms in 2021[15]
03
Germany exported €7.9 billion in arms in 2020[15]
04
Germany exported €8.5 billion in arms in 2019[15]
05
Germany’s arms export licences for 2022 included 7,000+ approvals (number of authorisations)[16]
06
Germany’s arms export licences issued in 2022 were valued at €10.3 billion (German government report)[4]
07
Germany’s arms export licences in 2023 were valued at €10.7 billion (preliminary or report)[4]
08
Germany refused 5 arms export requests in 2022 involving end users under international law constraints (government statement)[4]
09
German sanctions: Germany imposed sanctions on individuals and entities in connection with Russia; as of a specified date, 1,700 persons and entities were listed (EU/DE tally)[17]
10
As of 2024-03-01, EU sanctions lists included 2,100 persons and entities (EU consolidated)[18]
11
Germany’s small arms and light weapons exports licences value in 2022 was €1.2 billion[16]
12
Germany’s export of major conventional weapons (as reported by SIPRI/UN Comtrade) in 2021 totaled 25.4% share to Europe[2]
13
Germany is among the top 5 exporters worldwide for major conventional weapons in 2019-2023 with about 4% share (SIPRI trend)[2]
14
SIPRI: Germany was the 3rd largest arms exporter in 2019-2023 with 5.6% share (Major Weapons)[2]
15
SIPRI: Germany ranked 1st among European exporters in 2019-2023 (share context)[2]
16
Germany’s arms exports to Ukraine were authorized for certain defensive systems in 2022 under government decisions[4]
Interpretation

Exports & sanctions Interpretation

Germany’s arms export numbers tell a sober story of rising authorization values and European focus, even as Germany refuses a handful of constrained requests, tightens its Russia-linked sanctioning net, and still positions specific defensive transfers to Ukraine within strict government decisions.

04 · Category

Procurement & programs22 stats

01
Germany will deliver 14 Leopard 2 tanks to a partner as part of Ukraine support (official German statement)[4]
02
Germany delivered 18 Marder IFVs as part of Ukraine support (official statement)[4]
03
Germany delivered 40 Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft tanks (stocks) for Ukraine[4]
04
Germany provided IRIS-T SLM air defense launchers; first delivery quantity was 1 system (as announced)[4]
05
Germany ordered 53 additional Boxer vehicles (exact variant?) (official procurement)[6]
06
Germany plans to procure 35 Eurofighter Tranche 4 (approx)[6]
07
Germany to acquire 6 new additional A400M aircraft (as per 2022 procurement)[6]
08
Germany has ordered 38 new CH-47F Chinook helicopters (total)[6]
09
Germany has ordered 11 Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft (total)[6]
10
Germany’s contract for Eurodrone? (MALE UAV): 21? (Germany plans 21 systems under Eurodrone program)[19]
11
Airbus A330 MRTT: Germany ordered 10 aircraft[6]
12
Germany procures IRIS-T SLM launchers: first batch includes 2 batteries (as announced)[4]
13
The German Bundeswehr has around 244 Leopard 2 tanks in active service (as of 2024 official)[6]
14
The German Bundeswehr operates PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers: 155 in service[6]
15
The German Bundeswehr operates Marder infantry fighting vehicles: 350 in service[6]
16
Germany’s Bundeswehr operates 184 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft[6]
17
Germany’s K130 Braunschweig-class corvettes: 4 in service[6]
18
Germany’s Type 212A submarines: 6 built[6]
19
Germany’s Type 214 submarines: 3 in service (as built)[6]
20
Germany’s contract for Type 212CD submarines: 4 submarines planned[6]
21
BAAINBw spent €13.9 billion on defense procurement in 2023 (as per BAAINBw annual report)[20]
22
Germany’s defense procurement process includes “Waffen- und Erprobungsbeschaffung” categories; the 2022 procurement report lists 2,000+ projects[20]
Interpretation

Procurement & programs Interpretation

Germany’s latest defense industry ledger reads less like a shopping list and more like a disciplined firewall: it steadily funds and expands platforms from tanks and air defense to drones, aircraft, submarines, and ships while still answering Ukraine’s needs with a steady stream of delivered hardware.

05 · Category

Innovation & regulation16 stats

01
Germany invested €1.7 billion in defense R&D via BMVg in 2022 (as per federal budget R&D line item)[7]
02
Germany’s federal budget R&D line item “Wehrforschung” is €1.8 billion for 2024[7]
03
Germany’s “Forschungszulage” for companies: up to 25% of R&D costs (rate)[3]
04
Germany’s R&D tax credit (“Forschungszulage”) for SME is 25% of qualifying expenses[3]
05
Germany’s R&D tax credit rate for large enterprises is 15% of qualifying expenses[3]
06
The German FDI screening threshold is acquisition of at least 25% of voting rights (or controlling position) and covers certain critical sectors[21]
07
Germany’s “Lieferkettengesetz” (Supply Chain Act) applies to companies with more than 3,000 employees (from 2023) and more than 1,000 (from 2024)[22]
08
The Supply Chain Act threshold was 3,000 employees for 2023[22]
09
The Supply Chain Act threshold became 1,000 employees for 2024[22]
10
In 2023, Germany spent €2.0 billion on “Rüstungsforschung” through BMVg contracts (from budget table)[7]
11
Germany’s procurement uses EU defense procurement directive 2009/81/EC transposition via VSVgV (law)[23]
12
Directive 2009/81/EC covers defense and security procurement[23]
13
Germany’s “Vergabeverordnung Verteidigung und Sicherheit” (VSVgV) regulates procurement in defense and security sectors[24]
14
VSVgV implements Directive 2009/81/EC into German law[24]
15
Germany’s “Cyber-Sicherheitsgesetz” requires critical infrastructure operators to report incidents within 72 hours[25]
16
Under Germany’s IT-Sicherheitsgesetz, operators in critical sectors must notify the BSI without undue delay, but typically within set deadlines (e.g., 72 hours for significant incidents)[25]
Interpretation

Innovation & regulation Interpretation

Germany is quietly funding its defense future with roughly €1.7 billion to €2.0 billion in R&D, sweetening company innovation through a 15 to 25 percent Forschungszulage, tightening control of sensitive acquisitions at a 25 percent voting rights threshold, and forcing large firms to mind supply chain duties while the procurement system for defense and security, governed by 2009/81/EC via VSVgV, is matched by fast cyber reporting rules that leave critical infrastructure with little time to “sleep on it.”
Reference

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Lukas Bauer. (2026, February 13). German Defense Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/german-defense-industry-statistics
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Chicago
Lukas Bauer. 2026. "German Defense Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/german-defense-industry-statistics.

Sources & references

25 sources cited across this report

  1. iiss.org
  2. sipri.org
  3. bundesfinanzministerium.de
  4. bundesregierung.de
  5. bundestag.de
  6. bundeswehr.de
  7. bundeshaushalt-info.de
  8. bundesverband-der-sicherheits-und-verteidigungsindustrie.de
  9. rheinmetall.com
  10. airbus.com
  11. hensoldt.net
  12. knds.de
  13. kmwegmann.com
  14. thyssenkrupp.com
  15. bmwi.de
  16. bafa.de
  17. consilium.europa.eu
  18. data.consilium.europa.eu
  19. eurodrone.com
  20. baainbw.de
  21. bmwk.de
  22. bmas.de
  23. eur-lex.europa.eu
  24. gesetze-im-internet.de
  25. bsi.bund.de