Kommentar: Aufrüstung verschlingt Milliarden – das kann nicht ewig gut gehen
Der Rüstungsboom sichert viele Jobs. Doch das Tempo der Aufrüstung lässt sich auf Dauer nicht halten. Gesucht werden smarte Lösungen der Verteidigung für die Zukunft.
Kassel, Görlitz, and Unterlüß are cities where the growth of the arms industry can be felt. These regions are experiencing significant investment from major defense contractors such as Rheinmetall and KNDS, who are expanding their production capacities to meet the growing demands of the German armed forces. This surge in defense spending comes as the budget for the 2026 fiscal year will exceed 180 billion euros, almost double the amount spent in 2025.
For many regions that have traditionally relied on the automotive industry and machining, this influx of defense-related jobs is a blessing. However, those in sectors like automotive and manufacturing that are facing challenges due to the transition to electric vehicles and declining markets in China and the United States may face difficulties.
Thousands of workers are now shifting to the defense sector, with some workers in Görlitz needing no relocation, as they continue to work in the same city producing armored plates instead of carriages. The majority of this militarization is focused on classic military hardware, including vehicles, rail weapons, and ammunition, where mechanical precision and diesel engines are crucial.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
