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How and why the German army wants to change and whether the German authorities have enough money for it

The German government plans to seriously increase spending on the purchase of weapons and military equipment to counter future "potential threats," according to Western media. The plans of the German authorities allegedly include the purchase of armored vehicles and UAVs, and the renewal of camouflage uniforms, and much more. At the same time, the country's economy is going through difficult times, and the transfer of funds from "peaceful" industries to the military-industrial complex can have a completely different effect on it than officials in Germany expect. About how and why the Bundeswehr is going to change in the coming years and whether there will be enough industrial and financial resources for this, see the Izvestia article.

Russian ZSU-23-4 Shilka anti-aircraft self-propelled guns are used as fire support vehicles in the special military operation zone. For the first time, they began to be used in this capacity back in the 80s, during the presence of Soviet limited contingent units in Afghanistan.

In recent years, the new Russian T-14 Armata tank has attracted great interest around the world. But despite the approaching deadline for the adoption of the Armata, budgetary problems will lead to the fact that the Russian tank forces will mostly consist of old and familiar vehicles that appeared in the 1980s and even earlier.

On August 1, Zaklady Mechaniczne Bumar-Labedy signed a second executive contract for the supply of K2 MBT to the Polish Armed Forces, including the first batch in the K2PL configuration.

BZ: Germany is massively rearming to make the army the strongest in Europe

Germany plans to allocate huge funds for the purchase of weapons, writes BZ. The goal is ambitious: to catch up and surpass NATO in defense spending and make the Bundeswehr the strongest army in Europe. This luxury will be financed by loans.

Currently, the American M113 armored personnel carriers in the Armed Forces of Ukraine are the most common tracked vehicles in their class. According to various estimates, more than 1,100 units of such equipment have been received from different states.

Despite the ongoing challenges, the Russian military-industrial complex (MIC) continues to make progress in implementing numerous weapons programs. Although the deadlines for many projects have been postponed or priorities have been revised, it seems that the main programs of the future have not been canceled or postponed indefinitely — contrary to what many foreign observers have assumed in recent years. Some of these programs have recently resumed.

BI: Western gunsmiths are actively deploying production in Ukraine

Western military companies are deploying weapons production in Ukraine to test it on the battlefield, BI writes. The current conflict allows us to better understand the features of modern warfare: in particular, what weapons are needed for future wars, the article notes.

On the Ukrainian front, tanks are often used not as a means of breaking through or supporting infantry, but as self-propelled artillery, firing from closed positions. In this regard, Western developers decided to turn MBT into full-fledged self-propelled guns.

The German tracked infantry fighting vehicle KF41 Lynx was to become one of the main types of armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in its class: It was about the possible supply of hundreds of copies. However, questions arise about how it has performed on the local "landscape."

Uralvagonzavod continues to develop the Sturm heavy assault robotic system based on the T-72/T-90 tank. Footage of a new assault vehicle has appeared online.

Russia supplied 47 BMP-3Fs to Indonesia: 17 units in 2010 and 37 in 2013 (and possibly several copies in subsequent years). Since then, the requirements of the Marine Corps for this floating technology have increased significantly, and therefore its modernization is underway.

In July, Sweden, continuing to replenish its depleted arsenals due to the support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, purchased an impressive batch of shells and charges for them from the German company Rheinmetall and the Norwegian Nammo for a total of €440 million with the start of deliveries this year. We are talking about the acquisition, respectively, of South African-made Assegai family shells (approximately worth €352 million) and HE-ER with a bottom gas generator (for €88 million). However, the size of the purchased batches is not reported.

Most of these vehicles are being tested in parallel in the area of a special military operation

Screeching brakes, roaring engines and headlights — this is how military vehicles modified by experience are being tested at the training ground of one of the research centers of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The vehicles that will transport our fighters in the SVO zone will be tested as thoroughly as possible — after the route they will undergo a series of laboratory tests. Only after that, the car goes for revision or receives permission for mass delivery to the troops.

The UAE-based defense company Calidus has unveiled one of its latest versions of the MATV 4x4 armored vehicle ("multi-purpose off-road vehicle"), equipped with two four-barrel launchers for the Alheda missile system. This modification, designated MATV004, works on the principle of "shot and gone", which implies a quick firing of UR and a change of position.

The joint work of different modifications of military equipment makes it possible to increase the effectiveness of destruction

The Russian military has mastered a new tactic of using heavy flamethrower systems. Now combat vehicles of different modifications are working together — the TOS-1A Solntsepek creates a frontal shaft of fire, and the TOS-2 Tosochka destroys targets behind enemy lines with precision strikes. Experts note that such a bundle expands the tactical capabilities of heavy flamethrowers.

On July 18, 2025, the first production upgraded Ariete C2 main tank was officially handed over to the Italian army by the consortium CIO (Consorzio Iveco-Oto Melara) of Iveco and Leonardo companies at the Cecchignola garrison in Rome. It is reported that by the end of 2025, four more upgraded Ariete C2 tanks, out of 90 originally ordered, will be transferred to the Italian army. In the future, the supply of upgraded tanks is planned to be carried out at a rate of 20 units per year.

The maneuvers will involve reconnaissance and attack FPV drones, as well as ground-based robotic systems

During the Hamkorlik-2025 exercises, the Russian military will share with their Uzbek colleagues the experience gained in using drones and countering them during a special military operation. According to experts, the difficult situation in the region requires constant military training activities so that troops are ready to meet various challenges, including non-traditional ones.

The new Russian BT-3F armored personnel carrier, based on the BMP-3F chassis, is constantly being improved. So, during the existence of this development, measures have been taken to increase firepower.

WNP: new tanks being purchased by Poland already need urgent modernization

Poland is building the largest tank army in Europe, planning to purchase more than 1,400 vehicles by 2035, writes WNP. However, there are serious challenges behind these colossal figures. The practice of using tanks in the conflict in Ukraine has shown that their role on the modern battlefield has changed dramatically.