The number of German companies in the armaments sector has more than doubled since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a trend that is attributed to the continuous increase in defense spending. According to a spokesperson for the Federal Association of the German Security and Defense Industry (BDSV), the number of member companies has grown significantly. Specifically, the BDSV reported a rise of approximately 200 members between 2024 and 2025, with an additional 100 added since November 2025, bringing the total count to 550.
This industrial development is visible even in Eastern Germany, a region where the defense industry was previously less prominent. Hans Christoph Atzpodien, the General Managing Director of the BDSV, noted to the RND that “numerous activities, particularly within small and medium-sized enterprises, have developed in the eastern states to strengthen the German security and defense industry”. He pointed to the establishment of major system houses, such as Hensoldt and Airbus Defence and Space, as well as expansion from companies like MBDA, Diehl Defence, and KNDS. However, Atzpodien cautioned that while activity is building, the overall employment figures “have fewer employees than in the western states” attributing this discrepancy to historical circumstances.
This regional imbalance has long been a political focus. Last autumn, the Prime Ministers of Saxony and Thuringia (both CDU) requested that Eastern Germany be given greater participation in the massive new state contracts flowing into the arms industry.
This emphasis was recently reinforced by a spokeswoman for the Thuringian State Chancellery, who stated to the RND that “Thuringia is intensively lobbying the federal government to be given greater consideration in investments in security and defense capability”. She emphasized that this concern extends beyond procurement and supply chains, covering infrastructure and suitable industrial sites. According to the statement, Thuringia possesses substantial potential in future-oriented fields, including robotics, optics, and material sciences.