Germany

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants the military to do a proper requirements assessment for a potential next-generation fighter.

Speed and range are becoming more central to Europe’s weapons plans.

The head of the European Space Agency has framed Europe’s need to pursue lunar missions in unusually security-focused terms for the civilian organization.

Joint venture Quantum Frontline Industries says it has delivered the first Linza 3.0 drones made in Germany to the Ukrainian armed forces.

Eutelsat has cancelled the order for the Thales Alenia Space-made Flexsat Americas satellite due to concerns about competition for LEO systems.

Several European countries have signed an agreement to jointly develop long-range loitering munitions, the German defense ministry said.

Hensoldt has struck a partnership with Helsing, the European defense AI company that is behind development of the CA-1 Europa collaborative combat aircraft.

Munich-based startup ERC Systems has begun flight testing a full-scale demonstrator of its future hybrid-electric VTOL aircraft.

European startup Hypersonica says it has successfully conducted its first hypersonic missile flight test as the company emerges from stealth.

German aerospace lobby BDLI is calling for a dual-fighter strategy under FCAS, effectively urging France and others to go separate ways while maintaining the veneer of cooperation.

Diehl says it has secured several contracts with the German government that help underpin production ramp-up of its IRIS-T missile.

Relative to Europe’s other commercial markets, Germany stood out for the wrong reasons in 2025 and there seems little prospect for a change in fortunes.

German chancellor Friedrich Merz says Berlin and Paris will make a decision in a few weeks on whether to jointly pursue a future combat aircraft.

German rocket startup Isar Aerospace says it may return to the launchpad for its first attempt at an orbital launch as soon as March 19.

German startup LiveEO says it plans to deploy a constellation of 3D Earth-imaging spacecraft, naming Reflex Aerospace as the satellite platform developer.

Insufficient crew coordination in an Air Atlanta Icelandic 747-467F cockpit led to a stall warning at takeoff and a tail strike in 2023, investigators say.

Hypersonic vehicle developer Polaris won a German contract to build and flight test a fully reusable system with satellite deployment capability.

German space launch startup Rocket Factory Augsburg has secured two further ESA launches, while still working toward the inaugural liftoff of RFA One.

FCAS is suffering due to a slow pace of decision-making rather than political will to work together, France’s ambassador to Germany says.

Germany has signed up to acquire additional stocks of the Meteor beyond-visual range air-to-air missile, MBDA has declared.

German space startup The Exploration Company (TEC) is in talks to buy British launch startup Orbex.

Isar Aerospace is scrubbing a potential Jan. 21 launch of its Spectrum rocket to address a technical fault.

Isar Aerospace has set Jan. 21 as the “not before” launch date for its Spectrum rocket as the German startup also aims to reach orbit as part of the effort to recover from last year’s failed test mission.

Planet Labs is trying to get a new satellite production facility in Germany operational before year-end, though timing is somewhat linked to securing approvals.

German virtual airline startup Air Uniqon launched on Jan. 12, restoring direct Friedrichshafen-Berlin Brandenburg flights after a 10-year hiatus.