Russia's war of aggression marks a turning point - also in terms of security policy. Is Germany currently "fully defense capable"? How can we better protect our democracy from threats at home and abroad? And above all: What will our freedom cost us in the future? Sven Lilienström, founder of the Initiative Faces of Democracy, spoke with Armin Papperger, Chairman of the Executive Board of RHEINMETALL AG. We bring you an excerpt. 

Russia's war of aggression also marks a turning point in terms of security policy. Is Europe - and especially Germany - currently "fully defense capable"? What will our freedom cost us in the future?

Papperger: We are currently not prepared for an attack by Russia, which experts believe could happen in a few years. In this sense, neither the Bundeswehr nor the armies of our allies are currently combat-ready. It is estimated that it will take about ten more years to fill up the ammunition stockpiles. To meet the needs for air defense, vehicles, or digitization of the battlefield, defense spending of three percent or more of GDP may be necessary in the future. In Germany, this would be about 120 billion Euros. Considering that we are at 51 billion Euros today, there is a significant shortfall. Ultimately, it will require either a new special budget, changes to the debt ceiling, or reallocations, which may prove to be very difficult. This is a major task for politics to solve.

US President Donald Trump suggests increasing NATO spending to five percent of GDP. This would mean over 4,000 more Leopard tanks - just for the Bundeswehr. Is Germany, the automotive nation, now becoming a "tank nation"?

Papperger: Personally, I have always seen Germany as a tank nation. But seriously, at five percent, almost half of the German federal budget would consist of defense spending. Can you imagine that? Furthermore, the industry's capacities are currently not designed for such numbers. The automotive industry is completely different in terms of capability. However, when it comes to logistics vehicles, Rheinmetall can produce over 4,000 trucks per year. These are not civilian trucks, but military vehicles. The production in our factory in Vienna is very similar to automotive production. In the area of tactical vehicles, especially wheeled and tracked armored vehicles, we can produce about 1,000 systems per year. We tailor our production to the demand of our customers. Therefore, we have built capacities for tank manufacturing in Hungary and Australia, and will do so in Italy in the future as well. The Bundeswehr needs to define its requirements for Germany. Basically, for assembly line or robotic manufacturing, huge investments and orders as large as in Russia are necessary. Then we would be able to expand our facilities, as we have shown with ammunition production.

In a recent interview, you mentioned being exposed to a variety of threats - from graffiti to arson attacks. Has societal discourse radicalized in recent years?

Papperger: Unfortunately, I and other colleagues in my industry have long had to deal with threats. You can't be thin-skinned in that regard. With the hybrid warfare we are experiencing now, the threat has become even greater. Nevertheless, I feel very safe. The Federal Republic of Germany and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia are doing a lot to ensure security. As for societal discourse, polarization has been increasing for years. I have the impression that for an increasing number of people, things are either black or white. On the other hand, the willingness to listen and accept a better argument seems to be decreasing. This development worries me.

Armin Papperger profile: The "Maker of the Year" in HANDELSBLATT. 

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