Austria's armed forces: Made in Austria for more security and jobs!

Austria's armed forces: Made in Austria for more security and jobs!

Austria's Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner announced at a press conference on Wednesday that the Federal Army will increasingly rely on domestic production in the future. This comes in the context of a deteriorating security situation in Europe. Tanner emphasized that this strategy is intended not only to increase the country's security, but also to promote the local economy. Around 4,500 procurements are carried out every year, with 60 percent of the added value remaining in Austria bundesheer.at reported.

In the coming years, the focus will be on investments in modern equipment and the infrastructure of the armed forces. This includes the construction of a new large barracks in Villach, which is estimated at 400 million euros. Fortunately, 99 percent of the orders are awarded to local companies. “Made in Austria” is also used in vehicle procurement. 850 new trucks are planned by 2027, for which an order volume of 220 million euros is planned. Production takes place in Liesing and in parts of Salzburg and Tyrol.

Important procurement for the Federal Army

One of the most important purchases is the order for 220 new Pandur units from the Radpanzer series, which involves an investment volume of 1.8 billion euros. These tanks are also national products. In addition, the procurement of 315 drone systems will be realized for 10 million euros. Tanner was conciliatory regarding the review commission's recent criticism of structural deficiencies in defense purchases and assured that the review commission's report will come to parliament to address any communication problems.

A central project in the planning is the successor to the Eurofighter. However, the process of procuring a suitable successor model will take several years. Tanner also announced the introduction of a modern battle management system, which will be implemented as part of joint procurement within the EU. Current developments underline the need for a future-oriented and effective approach to the country's security policy.

With these measures, the Federal Army is demonstrating its determination not only to ensure the safety of the population, but also to make a valuable contribution to the domestic economy. The path to a modern and powerful armed forces will thus continue to be taken in order to meet current and future challenges. Further details on the procurement measures are available meinkreis.at to find.