Germany’s parliament is set to agree to more than €50bn in military purchases on Wednesday, rounding off a bumper year as the EU’s largest nation ploughs ahead with a vast rearmament.
Members of the Bundestag’s budget committee, which has the power to block or approve all significant weapons purchases, have been asked by officials to sign off on projects including a €21bn order for clothing and protective equipment for soldiers, according to documents seen by the Financial Times.
Other contracts include a €4bn deal for Puma infantry fighting vehicles and close to €2bn for satellite systems aimed at boosting European reconnaissance capabilities on Nato’s eastern flank.