The draft of the Federal Budget 2021which was negotiated this week in the Budget Committee together with the Federal Financial Framework 2021 to 2024, provides for disbursements of 2.673 billion euros for UG 14 “Military Affairs” in the financing budget. Compared to 2020, this represents an increase of 127.1 million euros or five percent.
Investments in particular will be increased significantly, more than doubling compared to 2018 (191.1 million euros) and rising again compared to 2020 (347.1 million euros) to 470.6 million euros. The share of investments in total disbursements will therefore increase from 13.6 percent in the 2020 federal budget to 17.6 percent in 2021. This increase is primarily intended to help reduce the investment backlog in the armed forces. In particular, investments are to be made in aircraft, armored vehicles and new buildings.
Additional budgets totaling 654.1 million euros will be made available for UG 14 over the next four years, as the Budget Service explains in its analysis. In addition to the investment package for expanding and strengthening cyber security amounting to 20 million euros each for 2021 and 2022, further investment packages are planned to better equip the armed forces in addition to the existing financial framework. A total of 400 million euros for the period 2021 to 2024 relates to counter-terrorism (testing of drone systems, improvement of technical reconnaissance systems), the disaster control package (e.g. replacement of truck fleets, procurement of special machinery and equipment to improve the self-sufficiency of the barracks), a medical package (e.g. ambulances, medical equipment) and the NBC package (including vehicles, protective masks, protective suits). A further 200 million euros will also be made available for the militia. Funds for the procurement of Black Hawks and multi-purpose helicopters were already included in the 2020 to 2023 federal financial framework.
In 2021, a total of 14.1 million euros has been budgeted for militia and assistance operations in connection with Covid-19. According to the Ministry of Defense, this relates to assistance services for Covid-19 crisis management for the Federal Ministry of the Interior and the health authorities.
Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner expressed her satisfaction with the 2021 budget, which she said was the largest budget ever. This would allow the ministry’s chronically underfunded budget to be increased, particularly in the area of investment. Tanner believes the ministry is on the right track to make the armed forces fit for the challenges of the future.
