Germany is considering a major military procurement deal that could include up to 2,500 armored combat vehicles and as many as 1,000 Leopard 2 battle tanks, according to exclusive reports by Bloomberg. This move comes as part of a broader European effort to establish new combat brigades aimed at countering potential threats from Russia. NATO has requested Germany to contribute up to seven such brigades within the next decade, and these weapons systems would equip those forces if approved.
The decision reflects growing concern among allies regarding increased Russian aggression following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The procurement under review by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and top Bundeswehr generals includes up to 1,000 Leopard 2 tanks and as many as 2,500 GTK Boxer armored vehicles, sources say. These tanks are manufactured by KDNS and Rheinmetall, while the combat vehicles are produced by ARTEC, a joint venture between KDNS and Rheinmetall.
Following the news, shares of Rheinmetall rose by as much as 3.7% on the Frankfurt stock exchange. The total procurement package could reach €25 billion, sources indicated, though they cautioned that negotiations are still ongoing and the final amount may be lower.
The orders are expected to be finalized in the coming months, with parliamentary approval possibly granted by the end of the year. Germany pledged these additional brigades as part of efforts to meet new NATO capability targets agreed upon by leaders at a summit in the Netherlands in June.
In addition to the tanks and armored vehicles, Berlin earlier this year received initial approval for the purchase of more than 1,000 Patria armored wheeled vehicles from Finnish defense manufacturer Patria. These vehicles will replace the aging fleet of Fuchs armored personnel carriers used by the Bundeswehr. Patria, based in Helsinki, is collaborating with KDNS and Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft (FFG) to build the AMV Patria. The order could reach €2 billion, with about 90% of production expected to take place in Germany.
To further strengthen its armed forces, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in June that Germany would need to increase its active-duty military personnel by up to 60,000—roughly one-third more than current levels. The government hopes that a new voluntary service initiative, set to begin in 2026, will help achieve this goal.