Germany is at the forefront of fundamental changes in European defence policies, pouring billions of dollars into military modernization and innovative startups, including manufactured spy cockroaches.
The country has long hesitated to embrace militarization, and its partners also maintain the US as Germany’s leading defense guarantor, but it is now building military leaders on cutting edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones, cyborgs and autonomous combat systems.
Surprised by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany accelerated its re-contract with plans to triple its defense budget to nearly $175 billion by 2029. This unprecedented investment is a pivotal moment for Europe. A significant portion of Germany’s budget is set aside for groundbreaking technology using startups at the forefront of this revolution.
German cockroach spy has already been tried
One such company is Helsing, Europe’s most profitable defense startup. This is worth $12 billion. Currently developing Combat AI and Attack Drones, co-founder Gundbert Scherf likens the current era to the Manhattan Project. Meanwhile, ARX Robotics is moving forward with autonomous ground systems, with the herd’s biomanagement, which recently raised 13 million euros, being pioneering biorobotics, including spy cockroaches. It features live insects with microchips that can induce cockroaches in a small backpack containing a camera and radio receiver through electronic stimulation. They are already running a field trial of small cyborgs, according to the company’s June press release.
Prime Minister Friedrich Merz’s cabinet has already approved a bill to support the startups and others. The new law will provide advance payments to small and medium-sized businesses, simplifying bureaucratic hurdles in contracts, and prioritizing EU-based businesses as well.
The push comes as President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission defends the 800 billion euro remilitary plan, including 150 billion euro loans for air defense and infrastructure modernization, and cross-border policies between the EU rallies’ boundaries, including the most controversial policy of all.
