Aerospace: Defense industry demands massive investments!

Aerospace: Defense industry demands massive investments!

The German aerospace industry is at the forefront of civil aircraft construction in Europe and sees itself as having a duty to take on a more significant role in the military sector. The industry association BDLI is therefore calling for increased investment in the defense industry and emphasizes that the special fund for German defense capability should be invested in domestic companies in a targeted manner. According to the President of the BDLI, Michael Schöllhorn, the companies have already made significant advance payments, which is why politicians must now also be held responsible. However, the aerospace industry is not only active in the military sector; last year it achieved a total turnover of 52 billion euros, which corresponds to growth of 13 percent.

Most of this growth can be attributed to civil aviation, which generated sales of 39 billion euros - an increase of 18 percent compared to the previous year. In the military sector, sales remained stable at 10 billion euros, while the space sector brought in 3 billion euros. Employment growth in the industry was 4 percent, bringing a total of 120,000 people to work in the aerospace industry.

Research and development in focus

Investments in research and development are enormously important for the industry. In 2023, expenditure amounted to around 3.6 billion euros. These investments are crucial to advance innovative and climate-neutral technologies. The industry remains challenged, particularly in the civil sector, to meet ecological standards and develop new, sustainable aircraft. The challenges of space research should also not be underestimated, especially given the cuts at NASA that companies are asking for support.

European independence in space travel is another key concern. In times of international crises, strategic independence becomes increasingly important. Given this background, it is not surprising that two thirds of production in the aerospace industry is exported. The outlook for the next few years also suggests that increased cooperation with international partners will be necessary to ensure technical progress.

Development since 2020

A look back at developments since 2020 shows clear differences. In 2021, the aerospace industry in Germany achieved sales of 31.4 billion euros. However, compared to 2020, there was a decrease in total employees from 105,000 to 100,000. This decline was partly due to the drastic Corona travel restrictions. Nevertheless, the industry has stabilized and continues to focus on the development of new technologies.

The military aviation industry remains constant at 7 billion euros in sales, and the number of employees has only fallen slightly. In the space industry, however, sales fell due to various problems in the supply chain. Nevertheless, there are signs of stability in employment, which is seen as positive for the industry.

Due to these current developments, it is crucial for the aerospace industry in Germany to be strategically positioned both nationally and internationally in order to adequately master the upcoming challenges in both the civil and military sectors.

For more information about the strategic importance and developments in aerospace, read more on t-online.de or find out more about the industry bmwk.de.