#bundeswehr

#bundeswehr

Sitting in the cramped interior of a Panzerhaubitze 2000 armoured vehicle, Tom, 20, hangs on every word coming from Achim, an officer with the German military, as he breathlessly talks students through the workings of the most modern tank in the world. What damage would you expect its ammunition to inflict? Tom asks. Achim replies: A standard round has a range of 30km, and anything within a 100-metre radius of that would be a direct hit, Achim says. The students exchange surprised glances.

German lawmakers Wednesday approved about €50 billion in military purchases, as Berlin accelerates defence spending in the face of a hostile Russia and signs of weakening security commitments from Washington. The extensive list of procurements ranged from missiles to artillery, torpedoes, armoured vehicles, satellite systems and new uniforms as Berlin races to overhaul the long-neglected Bundeswehr. Officials said that the new purchases, greenlighted by parliament's budget committee, mean a "historic" number of defence acquisitions have been approved this year, worth nearly €83 billion.

It is snowing, and 16-year-old Carlotta is standing on the vast military training ground in Grafenwohr watching a howitzer 2000 fire live ammunition. It is cold and very loud when the shells are fired, so Carlotta has to wear earplugs. This is not a day like any other for the young school student: While her friends are sitting in warm classrooms in Cologne, she has made her way to Bavaria by train alone.

Germany is spending billions to modernize and expand its Bundeswehr, with the Army playing a central role its chief warns it may face conflict before it's fully ready.

The Bundeswehr has control over its own data at all times and meets its requirements in terms of information and data security, Google Cloud emphasizes in the announcement.