The planned renovation of the NATO airbase Büchel in Rhineland-Palatinate is facing significantly increased costs, according to reports. The German federal government now anticipates total expenses reaching up to two billion euros, a substantial rise from earlier projections.
In 2024, the infrastructure project at the Eifel airbase was estimated at a maximum of 1.2 billion euros. Recent calculations suggest the costs could increase by as much as 800 million euros, potentially pushing the total well beyond the initial budget.
The German Ministry of Defence had previously indicated in late June that the additional expenses for Büchel would be in the hundreds of millions of euros, without specifying exact figures. The ministry cited the pace of construction and stringent US security requirements as reasons for the cost escalation. The infrastructure must be completed before the first of Germany’s new F-35 fighter jets are deployed.
The first F-35 stealth jets of the German armed forces are slated to be stationed in the Eifel region starting in 2027. The procurement of the 35 aircraft is reportedly proceeding according to schedule. The primary purpose of the F-35s is to support Germany’s nuclear sharing role within NATO, a deterrence strategy that allows allied nations access to US nuclear weapons in the event of conflict.