German Army’s budget 2024 – Narrow budget in demanding times

On September 6, 2023, the Bundestag engaged in a thorough debate over the budget proposal of the Federal Ministry of Defense. The budget for Defence in the Federal Budget 2024 was set at 51.8 billion euros, compared to the 50.12 billion euros in the previous year, 2023. It’s noteworthy that this amount does not include the “special fund Bundeswehr,” which allocates an additional 19.17 billion euros for military procurements.

Expenditure for military procurement reduced

Nevertheless, expenditures for military procurements have been significantly reduced to 2.72 billion euros, compared to 7.76 billion euros in the previous year, 2023. These reductions impact various sectors, including ammunition at 467.23 million euros (compared to 1.13 billion euros in the previous year), ships and naval equipment at 190.66 million euros (compared to 653.58 million euros in the previous year), aircraft and aviation equipment at 296.63 million euros (compared to 600.53 million euros in the previous year), and the procurement of combat vehicles at 142.26 million euros (compared to 600.09 million euros in the previous year).

The budget proposal also allocates 6.45 billion euros for material maintenance, as opposed to 4.85 billion euros in the previous year, 2023. This includes 3.36 billion euros for the maintenance of aircraft and aviation equipment (compared to 2.7 billion euros in the previous year) and 1.02 billion euros for the maintenance of ships and other naval equipment (compared to 553.5 million euros in the previous year).

Expenditures of 7.73 billion euros are earmarked for the accommodation of soldiers, an increase from 6.33 billion euros in 2023, including 2.7 billion euros for rents and leases. The costs for the general operation of the Bundeswehr are estimated at 3.61 billion euros, compared to 2.93 billion euros in the previous year, 2023. Additionally, obligations arising from NATO membership amount to 1.29 billion euros, compared to 1.44 billion euros in 2022.

The “Command Authorities and Troops, Social Security Contributions, Welfare Measures, and Support for Soldiers” category encompasses total expenditures of 18.69 billion euros, compared to 16.78 billion euros in the previous year, 2023.

Source: https://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/textarchiv/2023/kw36-de-verteidigung-957754#:~:text=Für%20die%20Unterbringung%20der%20Soldatinnen,2%2C93%20Milliarden%20Euro).