(Reuters) – Germany will spend almost 1 billion euros on 20 more Airbus military helicopters, which are expected to be delivered over two years from 2027, according to a government document.
The financing commitment, initially reported by Bloomberg, is described in a document from the Ministry of Finance to be presented to parliament, seen by Reuters this Sunday.
The Defense Ministry declined to comment on the order, saying it could not discuss procurement plans before they were debated in parliament.
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The purchase completes a 2023 deal that allowed the military to purchase up to 82 Airbus H145M helicopters, 62 of which have already been ordered.
The total cost of 931 million euros for the 20 additional aircraft — 15 for combat roles and five for special forces training — will come from a special fund created earlier this year to finance an urgent modernization of Germany’s armed forces.
Governments across Europe are increasing defense spending in the face of a rising Russian threat since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
