On the battlefield of the future

On April 30, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited the Army in Munster, the “Army’s capital.” The training and demonstration exercise “How the Army Will Fight” illustrated what the future battlefield might look like in the land domain. The Army’s soldiers demonstrated how they will fight in a changed theater of war and which proven and new systems they intend to use.

The Inspector General of the Army, Lieutenant General Dr. Christian Freuding, welcomed the Chancellor at Firing Range 3 on the Munster military training area. This was also Merz’s inaugural visit to the Army.

The German Army is the force responsible for military operations on land, the Army Inspector explained at the outset. This is where military decisions are made. The mission of the land forces remains unchanged: to hold and capture territory, even in the face of enemy resistance. But how this mission will be fulfilled is currently undergoing fundamental change. “Today we want to give you a picture of the battlefield of the future—to show how the Army will fight, how we intend to win,” Freuding announced.

What do the current conflicts and the resulting fundamental changes on the battlefield mean for operational command, for the principles of engagement, for equipment and weapon systems, and for the way the Army organizes itself? The soldiers provided the answer through a training and experimental exercise involving live fire, in which proven methods were combined with new ones—as well as with what is still needed—to create a comprehensive picture.

The exercise guided Federal Chancellor Merz through all phases of a military operation: reconnaissance, initial unmanned enemy contact, evasion, and finally the counterattack: What was demonstrated reflects a picture of warfare to which the soldiers of the Bundeswehr are preparing themselves. Technological leaps and subsequent developments became visible—developments that the Army is following and driving forward. These include, for example, the management of very large amounts of data with the help of artificial intelligence and the use of drones; not in isolation, but as part of an integrated system.

Following the dynamic demonstration, Merz held discussions with soldiers from the exercise unit, the 9th Armored Training Brigade. He then visited the static display organized by the Army Development Office to learn about systems that are already in the pipeline, those slated for procurement, or those on-site as examples of required capabilities.

“We have seen what you are capable of, but we also see that we still have a long way to go. The entire Bundeswehr is undergoing a transformation. We must be ready for deterrence and defense here and now, capable of ‘Fight Tonight.’ At the same time, we must prepare for the challenges of tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. This will require even greater efforts,” emphasized Federal Chancellor Merz in his statement.

The threats and the way conflicts are waged in the world today have changed fundamentally and will continue to change, Merz continued. Consequently, this means that procurement, structures, personnel, and infrastructure must all be aligned with and synchronized to these changes and new challenges.

Merz further emphasized: “The first steps have been taken, and the federal government will do everything in its power to ensure that our soldiers can continue to fulfill the mission we assign them politically in the future.” In conclusion, he affirmed: “I am personally deeply impressed by what we have seen here today. It is impressive to see how much ground we have made up, but it is equally clear that we must continue to advance this work.”