Europe should be at the forefront
Scholz calls for cooperation on armaments projects
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Armaments associations are calling for funding for the Bundeswehr to be ensured beyond 2025, something that Defense Minister Pistorius is also advocating for. Now Chancellor Olaf Scholz comments on this – and makes an appeal to Europe.
At the start of the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA), Chancellor Olaf Scholz promised the defense industry long-term support in building up its production capacities. “Today we see more clearly than ever how important it is to have a European and German defense industry that can continuously produce all important types of weapons and the necessary ammunition,” said the SPD politician at the exhibition center on the edge of the capital's BER airport. He announced the order for 20 more Eurofighter fighter jets.
Meanwhile, specialist associations in German security and defense policy have called for ensuring the financing of further equipment for the Bundeswehr beyond 2025. The Bundeswehr's special fund of 100 billion euros is far from enough to cover the needs. “The gap between current medium-term financial planning and the actual funds required by the Bundeswehr will open as early as 2025,” warned the nine associations in a statement. They referred to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius's demand to provide an additional 6.5 billion euros in the regular defense budget for the coming year.
The signatories demanded that the Bundeswehr be allocated the funds. Politicians in Germany “have given the arms industry too wide a berth in the past,” said Scholz at the opening. “That's over. Russia's attack on Ukraine, which violates international law, has presented all of Germany with a new security policy reality.” Due to time constraints, some weapon systems would now also be procured from partners who already have products available on the market. “We simply can’t wait for some things. But speed is just one important aspect,” said Scholz. “At the same time, I am committed to maintaining and expanding production capacities.” 20 more Eurofighters will be ordered this legislative period, in addition to the 38 aircraft that are currently in the pipeline.
Technological leadership is contested
Closer cooperation between European partners is necessary. “We in Europe simply can no longer afford to have a significantly larger number of competing weapon systems than, for example, the USA,” said the Chancellor. There must be fewer systems in which the strengths of the respective industries are reflected. Scholz said: “Then we will also achieve the necessary interoperability between Europe's armed forces and higher numbers.” He wants German industry to “play at the forefront.”
The industry is responding to the geopolitical challenges of this time with innovations, said the President of the Federal Association of the German Aerospace Industry, Michael Schöllhorn, at the opening of the trade fair. “Civil aviation presents advances in sustainability that will also become a competitive advantage.” Military aviation shows the systems of the future. And space travel shows “how Europe can ensure independent access to the use of space.”
But Europe's technological leadership in these topics is contested. “The industry is also under pressure.” In order to survive, you need the right political framework. “We also need the ability to plan the defense budget and ultimately also orders, otherwise we will no longer have medium-sized companies and suppliers whose capacities and skills will be crucial in the future.”
Around 600 exhibitors from 30 countries will be exhibiting at the European aerospace industry exhibition from Wednesday to Sunday. Until Friday, the trade fair is only open to trade visitors; on Saturday and Sunday, all other interested parties can also come to the exhibition grounds. In terms of content, the focus is primarily on the sustainable transformation of civil aviation as well as defense and security issues.
The fair takes place every two years. It has been certain since April that their venue will remain in Schönefeld near Berlin until at least 2030. The states of Berlin and Brandenburg are contributing 5.5 million euros each to the ILA trade fairs in 2026, 2028 and 2030.
