Breaking News: Germany negotiates to acquire up to 7,000 combat vehicles from Rheinmetall in historic land forces expansion.

According to information published by the German newspaper Bild on July 13, 2025, Armin Papperger, Chairman of the Executive Board of Rheinmetall AG, confirmed that the German defense company is currently in advanced negotiations with the German government to deliver between 6,000 and 7,000 combat vehicles. The aim is to equip several newly structured brigades as part of a broader effort to modernize and expand the Bundeswehr’s (German army) combat readiness.
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Germany launches historic rearmament program with plans to acquire up to 7000 combat vehicles from Rheinmetall as part of the largest land forces modernization since the Cold War. (Picture source: Editing Army Recognition Group)

The new German government procurement plan includes core armored platforms such as the Leopard 2 main battle tank, Puma tracked infantry fighting vehicle, and Boxer 8x8 armored personnel carrier. According to Armin Papperger, this surge in demand could bring Rheinmetall up to 70 billion euros in defense contracts over the next twelve months, only from Germany.

This massive acquisition drive is part of Germany’s strategic response to growing geopolitical threats, particularly following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Since then, Berlin has committed to overhauling its defense posture, moving away from decades of post-Cold War restraint toward a fully equipped, combat-ready force aligned with NATO’s forward defense goals. The plan to add thousands of armored fighting vehicles represents a fundamental transformation of the Bundeswehr’s capabilities and structure. Rheinmetall, already a critical supplier to NATO forces, is positioning itself as the central industrial actor behind Germany’s land forces renewal. The new vehicles will enable Germany to establish multiple new brigades, capable of rapid deployment and sustained operations within NATO's deterrence framework in Eastern Europe.

Germany’s current ground combat vehicle inventory includes 313 main battle tanks, comprising 209 Leopard 2A5/A6 and 104 Leopard 2A7V variants. In the infantry fighting vehicle category, the Bundeswehr operates 680 IFVs, including 258 Marder 1A3/A4, 72 Marder 1A5, and 350 Puma. Armored personnel carriers in service total 802, broken down into 112 tracked APCs (75 Bv-206S and 37 M113) and 690 wheeled APCs (331 Boxer and 359 TPz-1 Fuchs). The new procurement is expected to replace older systems and expand the force to meet Germany’s commitment to NATO force generation targets.

The Leopard 2A8 is the latest and most advanced variant of the proven Leopard 2 tank family. It features cutting-edge protection systems, including the Israeli-designed Trophy active protection system, improved mine and IED resistance, upgraded optics, and enhanced battlefield survivability. Armed with a 120mm smoothbore cannon, the Leopard 2A8 is engineered for high-intensity warfare against peer adversaries and is designed to maintain overmatch in mobility, protection, and firepower on the modern battlefield.

The Puma infantry fighting vehicle represents a new generation of tracked IFVs in service with the German Army. Developed jointly by Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, the Puma offers high levels of crew protection, modular armor options, advanced battlefield networking, and is equipped with a stabilized 30mm MK30-2/ABM automatic cannon with airburst capability. The Puma is designed to transport mechanized infantry while providing direct fire support in both conventional and asymmetric environments.

The Boxer 8x8 is a highly modular wheeled armored vehicle platform produced by the ARTEC consortium, with Rheinmetall as a key partner. Its interchangeable mission modules allow rapid configuration into a variety of roles, including armored personnel carrier, command post, medical evacuation, or fire support. With proven performance in multiple operational theaters and in service with several NATO countries, the Boxer offers a balance of protection, mobility, and tactical versatility. The Bundeswehr currently operates 331 Boxer vehicles in various configurations, making it a cornerstone of Germany’s wheeled combat capability.

This historic procurement push follows a broader increase in German defense spending. Since 2022, Germany has created a 100 billion euro special fund to modernize the Bundeswehr and is now among the top NATO contributors in terms of defense expenditure. By 2025, Berlin’s defense budget is expected to reach approximately 85 billion euros, and the federal government has officially approved plans to progressively increase military spending to reach 5 percent of GDP over the next several years. This would represent a seismic shift in German defense policy, positioning the country not only as NATO’s largest economic contributor in Europe but also as its future top conventional land power.

Alongside armored procurement, Germany plans to increase its active-duty personnel from 180,000 to over 200,000 by 2030 and expand investment in ammunition production, missile defense, logistics, and cyber capabilities. In light of ongoing security threats from Russia, German defense authorities now consider the possibility of a direct Russian offensive against NATO territory within the next five to eight years as a credible risk. The rapid rearmament of the Bundeswehr is therefore seen as a strategic necessity to deter aggression and ensure Germany can fulfill its operational commitments to NATO’s collective defense. As Europe’s largest economy reclaims a leading military role on the continent, this unprecedented deal with Rheinmetall marks a decisive turning point in Germany’s defense trajectory.