Time for Germany to arm up: Rising calls for heavier defense gear amid Russian threat

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According to "Bild", Pistorius believes that Germany must cease dreaming of peace and start readying itself for a potential war, This involves focusing on augmenting its expenditure on armament.

Christoph Heusgen, who leads the Munich Security Conference, shares this view. He highlights the need for drones in modern warfare. The Bundestag endorsed the acquisition of 140 Heron 1 drones in April 2022, expecting them to be fully operational by mid-2024.

Patrick Sensburg, chief of the reservist association, underscores that Germany must have drones to defend its territory effectively. Using the conflict in Ukraine as an example, he illustrates their importance. Sensburg advocates for increasing the Bundeswehr's stock of drones.

Germany also aims to initiate the Arrow 3 anti-missile defense system by the end of 2025. However, former Bundeswehr commissioner Hans-Peter Bartels contends that this plan is insufficient. He suggests that Germany should revert to traditional military air defense as soon as feasible. Bartels also draws attention to the significant shortage in ammunition, ranging from anti-ship missiles to artillery ammunition, and suggests ordering an additional 500 modern Taurus maneuvering missiles.

Experts underscore the importance of bolstering the infrastructure, such as enhancing the protection of power lines and telecommunication networks against cyber attacks. According to "Bild", "Germany is currently underprotected" in this respect.

Stefan Duell, head of the teachers' union, concedes that educational institutions at all levels should provide more instruction on Bundeswehr responsibilities and national security. He suggests that curriculum adjustments may be necessary, with a focus on threat awareness, geostrategy, and defense readiness.