Overview
- Saxony’s minister president said regional firms and sites should benefit from the higher defense budget and is convening networking meetings between major contractors and local suppliers.
- He called on the federal government to support eastern states and proposed an East Germany component in contract awards, citing the dismantling of defense structures after reunification.
- The state is advising machinery makers, auto suppliers and process-engineering firms on entry points into defense procurement, with the chip sector and new corporate investments highlighted as pillars.
- Opposition parties pushed back, with the AfD warning against a shift to a war economy and the Left urging public funds for civilian technologies such as batteries, hydrogen and medical tech.
- Recent regional reporting shows SPD economics minister Dirk Panter made attracting arms investment a core task as West German locations capture most gains, while Dresden’s Elbe Flugzeugwerke still earn little from military work despite maintaining Bundeswehr NH90 helicopters since 2019.