Defence exports

Around 70% of the turnover of the German security and defence industry depends on exports; national demand from the Bundeswehr and from agencies and organisations in charge of security (BOS) is by far and away not enough to fulfil the industry’s full capacity production.

On the export market, the German security and defence industry strongly competes with suppliers from Europe, the USA, Russia and other countries which receive large-scale political and economic support from their respective governments. In other countries, much more so than in Germany, defence export policy is seen in the context of each country’s own foreign and security policy and economic interests. For example, some countries have their own export-promoting organisations.

It is of crucial importance for the competitiveness of the German security and defence industry that the German government provide export assistance. This would be part of a responsible defence export policy, which should, also from the industry’s point of view, keep respecting the principle of case-by-case assessment. The importance of national clients as references should not be underestimated. A useful contribution can be made through an interdepartmental approach using strategic measures to consolidate the German security and defence industry’s competitive position.

The existing excellent and close co-operation between the German government and the industry in marketing German products abroad has been stepped up, for example at fairs and exhibitions. This involves having a strategic and interdepartmental positioning, developing an interdepartmental, intra-government organisation facility for defence exports assistance and also speeding up export licensing procedures in accordance with the German War Weapons Control Act (KWKG) / Foreign Trade and Payments Act (AWG) amongst others.