The German Armed Forces and the industry are working intensly to strengthen defence capabilities
With the establishment of a special fund to equip the Bundeswehr, an amendment to the German constitution (Basic Law) and the NATO decisions, the political and financial course has been set in Germany for strengthening defence. A large number of procurement projects have already been successfully initiated. However, the German Armed Forces still have a long way to go to ensure that their forces are combat-ready and capable of defending the country in the event of an attack. This is not particularly surprising. After years in which the defence industry played only a minor role in Germany, armaments companies cannot simply pull off-the-shelf solutions that meet requirements. In order to be able to provide materials, technical equipment and protective gear in sufficient quantities in the short to medium term, capacities must first be rebuilt.
Personal equipment for soldiers as a blueprint
The German Armed Forces has therefore adapted its procurement process. The focus is on simplified procedures, the use of commercially available solutions and intensive dialogue with industry representatives. In addition, the German Armed Forces is increasingly relying on synergy effects through international cooperation.
The provision of clothing, protective equipment and carrying equipment for soldiers is currently regarded as a blueprint for a successful rearmament process: Over the past three years, the German Armed Forces, in close cooperation with industry, has provided its armed forces with new personal equipment across the board – from combat boots to combat clothing, helmets, backpacks and modular ballistic protection equipment. To this end, suppliers have tripled, quadrupled and quintupled their output in some cases.
Reliable capacities ensure strong partnerships
From Nettetal in Germany, Hexonia GmbH has been supplying Bundeswehr soldiers with a multi-piece combat clothing system and ballistic underwear on a large scale since 2022. The Armed Forces Combat Clothing Set – KBS SK for short – comprises various underwear and insulation layers, combat trousers, shirts and jackets, as well as weather protection clothing, and is based on the IDZ-ES clothing system, which the company has been supplying to the German Armed Forces infantry since 2014.
In order to be able to supply multi-piece clothing systems not only to individual units but to entire armed forces, Hexonia has strategically realigned itself in recent years and significantly expanded its capacities. ‘We have made it our mission to support the German Armed Forces and other European nations as a partner. In today’s demand situation, which requires larger volumes in less time, this has involved extensive investments in equipment, human resources and digitalization in order to increase our performance,’ explains Sabine Albert, Managing Director of Hexonia GmbH.
From 2020 to 2023, Hexonia built an industrial park covering around 12,000 m² in Nettetal, comprising production and logistics halls, quality assurance, a laboratory and a prototype studio. The number of employees doubled to around 280 today. Another milestone in the expansion of services is its merger with the Norwegian NFM Group in 2022. “The size and capacities of the group enable us to reliably handle even more extensive orders. In addition, our product range has expanded significantly. Hexonia, as a specialist in clothing technology, and NFM, as a ballistics expert, complement each other perfectly,” explains Sabine Albert. With over 1,000 employees, NFM is active in the development of innovative, high-quality protective equipment for soldiers and security forces. In addition to combat clothing and helmets, the portfolio also includes modular carrying and protective vest systems and the corresponding ballistic packages.
Bundeswehr relies on personal exchange for faster armament
In order to speed up the procurement of military equipment, decision-makers in the German Armed Forces are in close contact with industry: requirements are shared at an early stage, product designs are reviewed and work processes and production facilities are assessed. As part of his summer tour, Vice Admiral Carsten Stawitzki stopped off at Hexonia this year. As Head of the Armaments Department of the German Ministry of Defence, he believes that reliable partners and commercially available solutions are key to successful and rapid armament: “During my visit, I was able to see for myself the innovative strength and reliability with which the company works – for the direct benefit of our soldiers. I was particularly impressed by the proven flexibility with which Hexonia has managed to adapt to the requirements of our time in just a few years, for example by increasing its production capacities. This is an example that even large system houses can follow,” emphasises Stawitzki.
Quantity vs. quality: strengthening defence through innovative developments
Ultimately, the defence capability of the German Armed Forces in terms of equipment is measured by the quantity of the required armaments that are available, as well as their quality and innovative character. The further development of products is an important part of the procurement process and is also a priority at Hexonia. “For 20 years, we have been working intensively on the requirements soldiers have for their equipment and are continuously developing it further in order to offer suitable and user-oriented solutions. The pursuit of innovation and a focus on actual needs have always been part of our company’s mentality. This is how, for example, our TRIVIUM helmet system was developed a few years ago, which we have been supplying to the German Special Forces (KSK) for three years,” recalls Sabine Albert.
The main requirements for the helmet system were maximum modularity through the integration of functional and ballistic accessories, as well as the possibility of personal configuration with easy handling. Today, thanks to continuous development, including in terms of protection level, TRIVIUM is even more powerful and can be manufactured in large quantities in various designs.
Conclusion: The Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw for short) sums up the “Zeitenwende” (turning point) in Bundeswehr procurement with the hashtag #BeschaffungLäuft (Procurement Is Running). Hexonia’s response is #ProduktionLäuft (Production Is Running) (too).