The Austrian Armed Forces look back on a year of intensive restructuring and strategic realignment. At the heart of military development is the 2032+ Development Plan, which envisions a comprehensive modernization of equipment and a structural strengthening of personnel resources. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner gave a positive assessment of the progress made in the past year and emphasized the need to closely coordinate procurement processes and infrastructure adjustments. Despite global challenges, key indicators in personnel recruitment, deployments abroad, and technological innovation show a clear upward trend.
The personnel situation of the Austrian Armed Forces represents one of the central pillars of current reform efforts. After years of personnel consolidation, the ministry recorded a significant increase in officer candidates in 2025. Over 1200 young men and women began their training as non-commissioned officers or officers, underscoring the attractiveness of military service in a competitive job market. At the same time, the entire quota of 700 positions in the civilian sector was successfully filled. A further key factor in the stability of the personnel structure is the decline in voluntary resignations compared to the previous year, indicating improved employee retention and more attractive service conditions.
A significant portion of military resources was tied up in domestic operations in 2025. The focus here was on providing security assistance in the context of migration and protecting critical infrastructure. Between January and November, an average of 505 soldiers served at the borders and in the hinterland, with over 2100 apprehensions recorded. In the capital, Vienna, the Austrian Armed Forces secured strategically important sites with an average of 100 personnel. Due to the ongoing security situation, this deployment has been extended until the end of March 2026. The Armed Forces also remained a reliable partner in disaster relief, particularly in combating animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, which required coordinated operations both domestically and abroad.
Internationally, Austria remains an active contributor to peacekeeping. Nearly 600 soldiers are currently deployed in 17 different missions worldwide. The focus is traditionally on the Western Balkans and the Middle East. The Austrian Armed Forces provide significant contingents to Kosovo (KFOR) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR) to ensure regional stability. Another focus is the UNIFIL mission in Lebanon. In addition to these active deployments abroad, the Austrian Armed Forces maintained a further 700 personnel on high alert as part of the EU Battle Group and as reinforcements for the Balkans, enabling them to respond to short-term crises. A particularly noteworthy deployment was the assignment of specialists from the CBRN Defense Center to Slovakia.
The Air Force recorded a busy year with a total of more than 13.500 flight hours. An operational highlight was securing the airspace during the World Economic Forum in Davos, a task that demands the highest levels of coordination and technical expertise. Domestically, the Air Force proved its worth in fighting fires in alpine terrain and in evacuation flights following mudslides in Tyrol. Technologically, 2025 marks a milestone with the continuation of the helicopter fleet modernization. With the arrival of the eleventh Leonardo AW169 Lion, almost a third of the planned 36 aircraft have now arrived in Austria. Pilot training on this new system is progressing rapidly, with the conversion training of the Alouette III pilots already successfully completed.
Investments in armaments and equipment form the financial backbone of the modernization wave. The year 2025 was marked by major investments amounting to billions of euros. Of particular note is the procurement of twelve Leonardo M-346 fighter jets, which represents a cost of 1,5 billion euros. This decision serves to ensure long-term training capabilities and airspace surveillance. Significant investments were also made in unmanned systems, with the purchase of 315 military drones. The modernization of the ground forces was advanced through the expansion of the vehicle fleet and the introduction of new radar systems, as well as a specialized drone defense battery.
The physical and technological infrastructure must keep pace with the new hardware. Around €426 million was invested in barracks and military facilities last year. Approximately 700 projects were completed, with a focus on creating self-sufficient structures. The goal is to maintain the operational readiness of the troops even in the event of a widespread failure of public utility networks. In addition to construction measures, the digitalization of combat operations was accelerated. The implementation of the Tactical Communication Network and the Battlefield Management System enables networked operations that meet modern standards and optimizes communication between the various branches of the armed forces.
The Austrian Armed Forces are breaking new ground in the areas of cutting-edge technological research and cybersecurity. The integration of artificial intelligence into internal work processes was successfully launched in 2025. These AI services are operated on a secure network to ensure information security. A visionary project is LEO2VLEO, developed in cooperation with the Netherlands. This project involves establishing a dedicated satellite communication system in Earth orbit, with a planned launch in 2026. This is intended to significantly increase the independence of military navigation and communication.
Eight decades after the end of World War II, the Austrian Armed Forces' Explosive Ordnance Disposal Service continued to make an indispensable contribution to public safety. In over a thousand operations, approximately 28,5 tons of war materiel were rendered harmless. This continuous work demonstrates that removing old munitions is as much a part of everyday military life as preparing for future threat scenarios. International cooperation, for example with the National Guard of Vermont or in conjunction with Germany and Switzerland, ensures that Austrian expertise in areas such as cognitive warfare and information operations remains at the cutting edge.