Combat Reconnaissance Brigades for the Bundeswehr?

As part of new NATO defence plans, Germany has reportedly pledged to the alliance that it will establish a number of new military units. According to sources well-informed by the German defence magazine hartpunkt, this includes two so-called “Combat Reconnaissance” brigades—reconnaissance brigades capable of direct combat.

It’s understood that such a brigade would serve as a corps-level asset, responsible for flank security and acting as a corps reserve in addition to traditional reconnaissance roles. To fulfill these duties, the German Army is apparently considering equipping these large units with not only long-range drone capabilities for both reconnaissance and engagement, but also with formidable combat vehicles, including main battle tanks.

However, the German Army has not officially confirmed these plans. “Please understand that we cannot confirm or deny individual points from the new, classified NATO force plans,” a German Army spokesperson told hartpunkt when asked.

This reference to secrecy is surprising, as the establishment of major Bundeswehr units, including their type, size, and location, is typically made public by the military itself. For example, the formation of the 45th Armoured Brigade in Lithuania was recently celebrated with a public ceremony.

The secrecy likely stems from uncertainty about the personnel needed to create these new units. This is underscored by a recent letter from the departing Inspector of the Army to the Inspector General, which was published by Reuters. In the letter, the Inspector warns that the German Army would need to grow from its current strength of about 62,000 to around 150,000 active soldiers to meet new NATO defence plans. The German military’s current goal is only to increase its total active personnel from roughly 203,000 to 260,000, which is far too few to meet the Army’s additional personnel needs, let alone the needs of other branches and support services.

Depending on the final design, a Combat Reconnaissance Brigade could require between 3,000 and 5,000 soldiers. Creating two such units would require up to 10,000 new positions if they were to be staffed entirely by new recruits and not in part through restructuring existing army units.

According to well-informed sources, a final decision on the creation and specific structure of these brigades has not yet been made. Nevertheless, there are clearly ideas about the capabilities and forces such a brigade would need. As mentioned, the brigade command would be able to draw on both drone-supported capabilities and “robust” manned reconnaissance. One idea is that each brigade could have a “light,” a “medium,” and a “heavy” reconnaissance battalion. Sources say the “light cavalry” would be equipped with the “Next Generation Reconnaissance Vehicle,” while the “heavy cavalry” could once again receive the Leopard 2 main battle tank. If these plans are implemented, it would be the first time in over two decades that the reconnaissance force would have organic main battle tanks; the last Leopard 2 tanks were handed over in the early 2000s.

According to MoD insiders, there is still debate about the future vehicle for the “medium cavalry.” Both wheeled and tracked solutions are reportedly being considered, with the key requirement being a large-caliber cannon. This could theoretically include solutions based on the Boxer or the Piranha 8×8 or 10×10, as well as the Lynx or the tracked Boxer. All of these platforms are technically capable of carrying 105mm or even 120mm gun turrets.

A final decision on whether the German Army will have Combat Reconnaissance Brigades and what exactly they will look like will undoubtedly be made and made public in the near future. The fact that the Army will soon be led by Major General Christian Freuding, a former reconnaissance officer with close ties to the MoD’s leadership, will certainly not hurt the chances of these brigades being established.

This article, written by Waldemar Geiger, was originally published in German by Hartpunkt on September 19, 2025. It was translated into English and republished on Calibre Defence on September 20, 2025. Credit for the lead image is Bundeswehr-Fotos, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. It shows Leopard 2A5s in service with the Bundeswehr.