Germany has taken a historic step in its defence posture. On Wednesday, defence minister Boris Pistorius unveiled the country's first-ever military strategy, a document that reorients the Bundeswehr toward speed, technological edge, and the ability to strike deep behind enemy lines.
"Our goal is clear: we will continue to strengthen the Bundeswehr's operational readiness – and we will do so at pace," Pistorius said in Berlin. The strategy, he explained, was driven primarily by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the rapid evolution of battlefield technologies. Armed forces must constantly adapt, even to challenges "that may not yet be foreseeable," he warned.
The threat environment has worsened significantly in recent years, Pistorius added. "The world has become more unpredictable and, yes, more dangerous." Against this backdrop, the German government has examined how threats may evolve, which scenarios are plausible, and which potential conflicts the country needs to prepare for.
From Numbers to Capabilities
At the heart of the new strategy is a fundamental rethink. Instead of focusing on fixed force numbers – how many tanks, aircraft, or ships – the Bundeswehr will now prioritise specific capabilities. "It's not about the exact number of tanks, aircraft or ships over the next 10, 15 or even 20 years," Pistorius said. What matters is what the forces can actually do.
This approach was echoed by the Armed Forces' inspector general, Carsten Breuer. "We are now looking at the impact we can achieve," he said. In practice, that means capabilities will no longer be tied to a single system – the outcome is what counts. Priority areas include air defence, long-range strike capabilities, and the ability to wage modern, data-driven warfare. New technologies such as artificial intelligence are also set to play a much greater role.
Germany's defence shift comes as European leaders grapple with broader security challenges. The strategy aligns with ongoing discussions among EU member states about mutual defence and collective deterrence, particularly in light of the war in Ukraine. EU leaders in Cyprus recently tackled Ukraine, the Hormuz crisis, and the mutual defence clause, underscoring the continent's need for coordinated security policies.
Deep Strikes and Long-Range Precision
A key pillar of the strategy is so-called "deep strike" – the ability to hit targets far behind the front line. Pistorius and Breuer made clear that such capabilities will become increasingly important. This includes long-range precision weapons designed to take out enemy supply routes, command centres, and critical infrastructure at an early stage.
Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, this approach is seen as crucial to weakening enemy structures early and easing pressure on one's own forces. At present, the Bundeswehr has only limited capability in this area. Its main system is the Taurus cruise missile, a German-Swedish weapon with a range of more than 500 kilometres, placing it at the lower end of the deep strike spectrum.
In future, however, Germany aims to significantly expand its ability to strike such targets with precision – and at greater distances. One example is the planned procurement of the JASSM-ER cruise missile for the new F-35 fighter jet. With a range of around 1,000 kilometres, it would extend the Bundeswehr's reach well beyond current systems. Both the aircraft and the missile are produced by US defence giant Lockheed Martin.
The focus on deep strikes reflects lessons from Ukraine, where drone innovation has exposed Europe's slow defence adaptation. Ukraine's drone innovation has exposed Europe's slow defence adaptation, prompting Berlin to accelerate its own modernisation efforts.
Secrecy and Expansion
Parts of the strategy are deliberately being kept under wraps, according to Pistorius. Concrete scenarios and potential deployment plans will not be made public, as this would give adversaries too much insight. "Otherwise we might as well add Vladimir Putin to our email distribution list," he said.
Alongside the strategic overhaul, the German government is planning a significant expansion of the Bundeswehr. The aim is to reach a total strength of 460,000 personnel, combining active troops and reserves. Germany currently has around 184,300 active soldiers and roughly 860,000 reservists. The increase is to be carried out in several phases. The immediate goal is to boost operational readiness rapidly by 2029. In the years that follow, new capabilities are to be developed – also in anticipation of incoming weapons systems.
The defence ministry says it is taking a pragmatic approach to recruitment. To ensure enough personnel, more applicants will be accepted than there are posts available. "We are allowing for overbooking," Pistorius said. Reservists are set to play a central role in the expanded force, as without sufficient troops, new capabilities cannot be developed or sustained over the long term.
German security expert Dr Christian Mölling called the strategy an "important first step" on LinkedIn, but cautioned that it "should not be mistaken for a moment after which everything changes overnight." He noted that historically, German military planning has been strongly shaped by NATO requirements. "What is new, however, is that Germany is now formally articulating national military objectives, priorities and room for manoeuvre, which it can then bring into NATO and Europe," Mölling added.
The strategy marks a clear departure from decades of post-Cold War restraint. As Europe faces a more dangerous neighbourhood, Berlin is signalling that it is ready to take on a greater military role – both within NATO and as a European power. The coming years will test whether the Bundeswehr can translate these ambitious plans into real-world capability.
