There is no way that Germany will be able to achieve its existing mobilization and rearmament goals as currently stated—but cheap and effective naval drones could provide an alternative.
With Russia committed to full-scale war in Ukraine and sizing up NATO territory in eastern Europe, Germany has committed itself for the first time in 80 years to total rearmament. Berlin’s rearmament push aims to meet the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) minimum two percent of national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) defense spending target—though Berlin thinks it can get to 3.5 percent by 2029—and to modernize the Bundeswehr into Europe’s largest and most capable.
Indeed, Berlin plans to expand active-duty personnel to 240,000 by 2031. Its budget for Fiscal Year 2025 prioritizes advanced systems—and in particular focuses on naval enhancements, anticipating a showdown with the Kremlin in the Baltic Sea. Recent investments include an €800 million contract for Type 212A-class submarine upgrades by ThussenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), incorporating new combat systems and autonomy features, for instance.
All of this is laudable—at least on paper. But Germany has been one of the hardest hit victims of the Ukraine War. Following the mysterious destruction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline—since linked to Ukraine’s intelligence services, with NATO’s likely involvement in some capacity—Germany’s energy prices have soared, stagnating its economy. As a result, when Berlin makes noise about strengthening its military, it is using money that it does not really have. And its defense industrial base is in no shape to take on Russia’s—which, recall, can produce in three months what it takes all of NATO, including the United States, a year to build.
The one area, however, where Germany might enjoy some success is with the rapid development—and deployment of—unmanned systems.
The Gambler Maschineblau-FLANQ Development Deal
Gambler Maschinenblau (GmbH) and FLANQ, two German-based innovators, have partnered to create a new class of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) designed for submarine torpedo tube launch (TTL). Announced in August of this year, this collaboration promises to enhance submarine capabilities through stealthy, autonomous deployments, addressing the growing demand for uncrewed systems in contested maritime environments.
USVs represent the forefront of modern naval innovation, offering remote-operated or autonomous platforms for missions that minimize human risk. Gabler and FLANQ’s TTL USVs stand out by being specifically engineered for launch from standard 533mm submarine torpedo tubes, a NATO-compatible form factor that ensures seamless integration with existing fleets.
Unlike traditional surface-launched drones, these USVs enable covert deployment from submarines, eliminating the need for driver assistance and preserving the host vessel’s stealth.
The new partnership leverages Gabler’s 60-year-long experience building submersibles along with FLANQ’s prowess in autonomous maritime platforms. Gabler handles system integration and global commercialization, while FLANQ focuses on design, manufacturing, and payload integration using Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components from European suppliers.
This modular approach allows for both single-use expendable variants suited for precision strikes and reusable models for extended operations, making USVs versatile for diverse tactical needs.
Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), these vessels boast GPS-denied navigation via inertial systems. Surface ranges exceed 200 nautical miles, and the USVs have endurance of up to 36 hours in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) configurations. Communication options encompass satellite relays, datalinks, and acoustic bursts, ensuring reliability in denied environments.
Germany Badly Needs the TTL USV for Its Defense
Conventional submarines, such as Germany’s diesel-hybrid Type 212A class, can eject the USV through torpedo tubes without surfacing, allowing the drone to ascend, unfold, and commence missions autonomously. Once operational, the USV extends the submarine’s sensor reach by hundreds of miles, conducting ISR without exposing the parent vessel to potential threats nearby.
Payload modularity is another highlight of this new system. Equipped with electro-optical/infrared sensors, electronic warfare (EW) suites, loitering munitions, or decoys, these USVs can perform multifaceted roles: from littoral surveillance and deep-sea reconnaissance to jamming enemy radars or simulating naval signatures for deception. In strike modes, they deliver standoff effects, enhancing hybrid warfare tactics with plausible deniability.
This scalability supports mass production at low costs—aligning with demands for affordable, rapid-deployable assets in high-threat zones, such as the Baltic Sea.
Beyond technical prowess, TTL USVs offer profound strategic benefits. By transforming standard torpedo tubes into multi-role launchers, they provide a force multiplier for submarines, enabling persistent ISR and tactical reach without compromising stealth. This is crucial in contested waters like the Baltic Sea, where traditional surface assets face heightened risks from anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) systems. The diver-free deployment reduces operational complexity, allowing submarines to maintain submerged positions longer, thus improving endurance and survivability.
For European and NATO forces, these USVs address gaps in autonomous maritime capabilities, fostering interoperability and collective defense. Their emphasis on sovereign European suppliers ensures supply chain security, vital amid global disruptions.
By extending stealth operations and ISR capabilities, Gabler and FLANQ’s proposed TTL USVs amplify Germany’s undersea warfare capabilities which, in turn, enhance NATO’s capabilities. In theory, the presence of these new USVs deters aggression in the Baltic but further contributes to allied operations, reinforcing Germany’s leadership in European defense.
Amid budget constraints, the low-cost, mass-producible nature of these USVs ensures efficient resource allocation, accelerating rearmament goals.
Germany Must Focus on Unmanned Weapons Above All
Gabler and FLANQ’s torpedo launch USVs mark a transformative step in uncrewed naval technology, blending stealth, autonomy, and modularity to redefine submarine warfare. For Germany, this innovation is a key element of their rearmament push—providing agile, cost-effective enhancements to naval forces amid rising global threats.
In fact, this system and similar systems might be what the limited defense industrial base of Germany should focus on. There is no way that Berlin will be able to achieve its existing mobilization and rearmament goals as currently stated.
As adoption of these USVs grow, they could reshape NATO’s maritime strategy, ensuring some semblance of security for a postmodern Europe that is increasingly vulnerable in the new world of great power politics. With these ongoing developments, the future of German naval rearmament looks increasingly autonomous and resilient.
The only question remains whether Berlin focuses on these developments—or gets lost in calls for building a larger army or costlier, manned systems.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest. Recently, Weichert became the host of The National Security Hour on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio, where he discusses national security policy every Wednesday at 8pm Eastern. He is also a contributor at Popular Mechanics and has consulted regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, The Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Alexyz3d.
