List of modern equipment of the German Army
Modern equipment of the German Army, list of equipment currently in service with the German Army.
Infantry weapons
Model | Image | Origin | Type | Caliber | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Handguns | |||||
Heckler & Koch USP Designated as: Pistole 8 (P8) Pistole 12 (P12) | ![]() ![]() | Germany | Handgun | 9×19mm Parabellum .45 ACP (11.43x23mm) | The P8 model (9×19 mm) is the standard handgun of the Bundeswehr, while the P12 model (.45 ACP/11.43x23 mm) is used by the Special Forces. |
Heckler & Koch P7 | ![]() | West Germany | Handgun | 9×19mm Parabellum | Used by Military Police. |
Heckler & Koch P30 | ![]() | Germany | Handgun | 9×19mm Parabellum | Used by Military Police and the special forces;[1] replacing the P7. |
Heckler & Koch P2A1 | ![]() | West Germany | Flare gun | 26.5mm | |
Submachine guns | |||||
Heckler & Koch MP7 | ![]() | Germany | Submachine gun, Personal defense weapon | HK 4.6×30mm | Replacing the UZI to become the standard submachine gun of the German Army. |
Heckler & Koch MP5 | ![]() | West Germany | Submachine gun | 9×19mm Parabellum | In use with the Special Forces - Kommando Spezialkräfte, the military police and the German Navy. |
Assault rifles, Battle rifles & Rifles | |||||
Heckler & Koch G36 | ![]() | Germany | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | Standard rifle of the German Army since 1997, replacing the old G3. The G36 will be replaced by the new standard service rifle, Heckler & Koch HK416. |
Heckler & Koch HK416 (designation "G26") | ![]() | Germany | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm NATO | Standard assault rifle of the Bundeswehr. The HK416 A8 will be replacing the old Heckler & Koch G36. |
Heckler & Koch HK417 (designation "G27") | ![]() ![]() | Germany | Battle rifle, Designated marksman rifle | 7.62×51mm NATO | Bundeswehr designation "G27"[2] |
Heckler & Koch G3 | ![]() | West Germany | Battle rifle | 7.62×51mm NATO | Was the standard rifle of the West German army; last active use was in the War in Afghanistan. Since then, all weapons are in reserve, with batches being given away to friendly forces, like the Peshmerga. |
Karabiner 98k | ![]() | Nazi Germany | Carbine, Bolt action rifle | 7.92×57mm Mauser | Retained for ceremonial use only.[3] |
Machine guns | |||||
Heckler & Koch MG4 | ![]() | Germany | Light machine gun | 5.56×45mm NATO | Standard light machine gun of the German Army. |
Rheinmetall MG3 | ![]() | West Germany | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×51mm NATO | Standard general-purpose machine gun of the German Army; it was derived from MG 42. Will be replaced by the MG5 in the infantry role. |
Heckler & Koch MG5 | ![]() | Germany | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×51mm NATO | Will become the new standard general-purpose machine gun of the German Army; partly replacing the MG3 |
Heckler & Koch HK21 (designation "G8") | ![]() | Germany | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×51mm NATO | Used in small numbers with the special forces |
M2 Browning | ![]() | United States | Heavy machine gun | 12.7×99mm NATO | Standard heavy machine gun German Army. Bundeswehr designation "Maschinengewehr Kaliber .50". Used mostly as vehicle armament, for example on the LIV (SO) Serval. |
Minigun (M134D-H) | ![]() | United States | Machine gun | 7.62×51mm NATO | Used on H145M helicopters, vehicles and smaller boats under the designation MG6. |
Designated marksman rifles & Sniper rifles | |||||
Accuracy International AWM | ![]() | United Kingdom | Sniper rifle | .300 Winchester Magnum | Bundeswehr designation "G22A2". |
Heckler & Koch G28 | ![]() | Germany | Designated marksman rifle | 7.62×51mm NATO | Based on the HKMR308.[4] |
Barrett 50 Cal/M107/M107A1 | ![]() | United States | Anti materiel sniper rifle | 12.7×99mm NATO | Bundeswehr designation "G82/G82A1". |
Haenel RS9 | ![]() | Germany | Sniper rifle | .338 Lapua Magnum | Bundeswehr designation "G29", in service with the special forces; replacing the G22[5] |
Shotguns | |||||
Remington Model 870 | ![]() | United States | Shotgun | 12 gauge | Used by special forces and the military police |
Grenades and grenade launchers | |||||
DM51 | ![]() | Germany | Fragmentation grenade | ||
Heckler & Koch AG36 | ![]() | Germany | Grenade launcher | 40×46mm | Replacing the HK69A1; Bundeswehr designation "AG-40". |
Heckler & Koch HK69A1 | ![]() | West Germany | Grenade launcher | 40×46mm | |
Heckler & Koch GMG | ![]() | Germany | Automatic grenade launcher | 40×53mm | Bundeswehr designation "Granatmaschinenwaffe 40mm". Sometimes used as vehicle armament on vehicles such as the TPz Fuchs, Mungo ESK, Boxer, or Fennek.[6] |
Anti-tank weapons | |||||
Panzerfaust 3 | ![]() | Germany | Rocket-propelled grenade | 110mm | Standard infantry AT weapon. |
PARM | ![]() | Germany | Off-route mine | 132mm | Operating remotely-controlled or autonomously. |
MATADOR | ![]() | Germany / Singapore | Rocket launcher | 90mm | LRMP version (Long Range Multi-Purpose), range: 1,200m, used under the designation "Wirkmittel 90", Matador-AS (Anti-Structure) used under the designation "RGW90" |
MBDA Enforcer | Germany | Shoulder-launched fire and forget missile | - | Range up to 2,000 meters. Ordered in December 2019 under the designation "Wirkmittel 1800+"[7] | |
Carl Gustav | ![]() | Sweden | Recoilless rifle | 84mm | Former standard AT weapon of West Germany, now used only for firing signal ammunition in training scenarios. Bundeswehr designation "Schwere Panzerfaust 84 mm/Leuchtbüchse 84 mm".[8] |
MELLS | ![]() | Israel / Germany | Anti-tank missile | 152mm | Spike-LR variant, locally designated MELLS and manufactured by EuroSpike GmbH, to be mounted on Puma and Marder infantry fighting vehicles, on Wiesel vehicles and to be used with the infantry.[9][10] |
MILAN | ![]() | France / West Germany | Anti-tank missile | 115mm | Being replaced by MELLS |
Vehicles
Current inventory of armoured vehicles, including number of serviceable and active vehicles is likely to rise significantly due to ongoing war in Ukraine due to Russian Invasion of Ukraine which as a side effect caused re-think of Germany's defence doctrine which includes increased defence spending of at least %2 of GDP and initial spend of €100 billion on expanding, improving and updating defence equipment. German Government is yet to outline its defence doctrine in coming months but it quite likely to include formations of additional combat brigades as well as support elements.[11][12][13]
Model | Image | Origin | Type | Number | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Armored vehicles | |||||
Leopard 2 | ![]() |
Germany | Main battle tank | 289 active[14] (2021) 183 operational |
Number to be increased to 328 by 2025,[14] 104 used vehicles to be upgraded to A7V standard, with deliveries from 2019 to 2023.[15] |
Puma | ![]() |
Germany | Infantry fighting vehicle | 350 active[16] (2022)
150 operational |
The Puma is replacing the Marder.[17] A first batch of 350 was ordered. A potential order for the second batch comprising 229 Pumas was announced in March 2022.[18] Rheinmetall is to standardise the first batch of Pumas under a 1.04 billion euros contract.[19] |
Marder | ![]() |
West Germany | Infantry fighting vehicle | 382[15] (2017)
319 available 212 operational |
200 to be upgraded; will remain in service beyond 2025.[20] 260 Marder will receive modern thermal imaging systems for gunner and commander.[21] Over 170 new drivers night vision sights were ordered as well[22] while 71 vehicles are receiving new engines.[23] |
GTK Boxer | ![]() |
Germany / United Kingdom / Netherlands | Armored personnel carrier / armoured fighting vehicle | 405 delivered in two batches | Replacing TPz Fuchs and the M113 fleet partly:
- 256 armored personnel carriers (APCs)[24] - 72 armored ambulances - 65 command vehicles The first batch of German Boxers is being upgraded to A2 standard by May 2024. An order for 93 turreted versions intended to replace the Wiesel 1 in infantry battalions is being considered.[25] |
TPz Fuchs | ![]() |
West Germany | Armored personnel carrier | 907 active[26] (2017) 684 available 525 operational |
267 upgraded to the latest 1A8 version |
M113 | ![]() |
United States | Armored personnel carrier, weapons carrier | 222 initially, significantly fewer remain in specialist roles | 48 mortar carriers remain operational[27] (2017), in addition to ABRA ground surveillance radar carriers |
BV 206S | ![]() |
Sweden | Specialist vehicle | 347 | 189 armoured model and 158 standard models, used mainly by mountain troops. |
Wiesel 1/2 | ![]() |
Germany | Armored weapons carrier (Waffenträger) | ~400 | Wiesel 1s are undergoing a service life extension programme, with their TOWs being replaced by MELLS[28] in addition to armour upgrades.[29] In non-airborne infantry units, the Wiesel weapon carriers are to be replaced by turreted Boxers.[30] |
Dingo 1/2 | ![]() |
Germany | Infantry mobility vehicle | 636 | Considered a GFF 3 class vehicle. GFF designates protected utility and command vehicles (MRAPs), with the classes 1-3 differing in payload and armour level. |
Eagle IV/Eagle V | ![]() |
Switzerland | MRAP | 671 +80 Eagle V 6x6 on order | GFF 2 class. 80 Eagle V 6x6 as armoured ambulance vehicles were ordered in March 2020.[31] |
Enok | ![]() |
Germany | Armored car | 221[32] (2015) | GFF 1 class.
Mainly used by special forces (KSK) and the military police (Feldjäger). |
Fennek | ![]() |
Germany / Netherlands | Light armored reconnaissance vehicle | 222 (of 248) | 148 reconnaissance, 24 combat engineer, 50 joint fire support teams (JFST). Total number to be increased to 248.[33] |
AGF Serval | ![]() |
Germany | Light armored utility vehicle | 21 | Used by special forces. To be replaced by up to 80 AGF 2.[34] |
DURO III | ![]() |
Switzerland | MRAP | 30 | |
Mungo ESK | ![]() |
Germany | MRAP, NBC vehicle | > 400[35] | Mainly used by airborne forces, GFF 1. |
YAK | ![]() |
Switzerland / Germany | MRAP, various roles | 145 | Improved version of the DURO III |
Artillery and air defence | |||||
M270 MLRS | ![]() |
United States / Germany | Multiple rocket launcher | 38[36] | 40 are planned to remain in service.[37] |
PzH 2000 | ![]() |
Germany | Self-propelled artillery | 121 active[26] (2017)
108 available 94 operational |
108 are planned to remain in service:[38] |
Tampella | ![]() ![]() |
Finland | Mortar | 86[36] | 120mm mortars, towed by Wolf (Mercedes-Benz G-class) or carried by remaining M113. |
Engineering vehicles | |||||
Dachs | ![]() |
West Germany | Engineering vehicle | 83 | Based on Leopard 1 chassis. Project to part-replace ongoing. |
Büffel | ![]() |
Germany | Armored recovery vehicle | 75 | Based on Leopard 2 chassis. |
Keiler | ![]() |
Germany | Mine-clearing vehicle | 24 | |
Biber | ![]() |
West Germany | Armored vehicle-launched bridge | 40 | |
Leguan | ![]() |
Germany | Armored vehicle-launched bridge | 31 ordered | Replacing the Biber. |
M3 Amphibious Rig | ![]() |
Germany | Amphibious bridge layer | 30 | |
Logistics | |||||
SLT 50 Elefant | ![]() |
Germany | Tank transporter | 324 | |
SLT-56 Franziska | ![]() |
Germany | Tank transporter | 49 | |
SLT Elefant 2 | ![]() |
Germany | Tank transporter | 19 delivered, 61 additional ones on order (November 2020) | Initially 32 on order, with an option for 105 more.[39] In November 2020, 48 additional ones were ordered.[40] |
Heavy road tanker 8x8 | ![]() |
Italy | Tanker | 106 | Based on Iveco Trakker. |
Troop detoxification site 90 | Italy | Mobile decontamination system | 73 | ||
RMMV HX2 | ![]() |
Germany | Truck | 1,250[41] (June 2020) | Up to 6,271 could eventually be ordered if all options from the two existing framework contracts are exercised. Replacing KAT1. First 20 delivered in November 2018. Includes 5 t and 15 t versions as well as hook loaders. The usually unprotected cabin can be swapped with an armoured one. |
RMMV TG MIL | ![]() |
Austria / Germany | Truck | ||
Iveco Trakker | ![]() |
Italy / Spain | Truck | ||
Zetros | ![]() |
Germany | Truck | 110 | Protected transport vehicle (GTF). |
Unimog U3000, U4000 and U5000 | ![]() |
Germany | Truck | 5,500 | |
MAN KAT1 | ![]() |
Germany | Truck | 8,000 | Phased out in favour of UTF family of vehicles (RMMV HX2). |
Utility | |||||
Volkswagen T3/T4/T6 | ![]() |
Germany | Utility van | ||
Mercedes-Benz 250 GD "Wolf" | ![]() |
Germany | Utility car | 12,000 | |
KTM 400 LS-E Military | ![]() |
Austria | Motorcycle | ||
BMW R 1150 RT | ![]() |
Germany | Motorcycle | Used by the military police also for escorts | |
Kodiak | Japan | ATV, Yamaha Grizzly 450 | |||
RABE | United States / Germany | Unmanned ground vehicle | 44 | Modified IRobot 110 Firstlook with additional reconnaissance equipment |
Aircraft
Model | Image | Origin | Class | Role | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Eurocopter Tiger | ![]() |
Europe | Rotorcraft | Attack helicopter | 51 active, 9 operational (2022)[42] | |
NHI NH90 TTH | ![]() |
Europe | Rotorcraft | Transport helicopter | 80 | |
Airbus Helicopters H145M | ![]() |
Europe | Rotorcraft | Search and rescue | 7 + 1 WTD61 | |
Airbus Helicopters H135 | ![]() |
Europe | Rotorcraft | Trainer | 19 | |
EMT Luna X-2000 | ![]() |
Germany | UAV | Reconnaissance | 84 | Currently being replaced by LUNA NG[43] |
EMT Luna NG/B | Germany | UAV | Reconnaissance | First batch of 20 in service, 45 more on order | Replacing LUNA and KZO[44] | |
Rheinmetall KZO | ![]() |
Germany | UAV | Reconnaissance and target acquisition | 44 | Currently being replaced by LUNA NG[45] |
EMT Aladin | ![]() |
Germany | Miniature UAV | Reconnaissance | 290 | |
AirRobot AR 100-B | ![]() |
Germany | Miniature UAV | Reconnaissance | 145 | Dubbed MIKADO in German Army service[46] |
Black Hornet Nano | ![]() |
Norway | Micro UAV | Reconnaissance | 30 |
References
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