Recent changes in Germany's defense sector are accompanied by the adoption of important decisions aimed at the future development of the country's military infrastructure. These decisions reconsider previous plans for the use of military facilities for civilian purposes and prioritize the needs for army expansion.
Redaksiya reports that Nils Hilmer, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense, stated in his announcement that plans for civilian use are ready in many regions. However, the current security situation necessitates the growth of the army. Hilmer also emphasized their desire to find common solutions through dialogue. An announcement from the Ministry notes that new real estate needs have emerged within the framework of plans to further expand the armed forces in the coming years. For this reason, the transformation process intended to transfer military properties for civilian use has been halted.
Meanwhile, a major transformation project continues in the remaining parts of Tegel Airport. While an industrial park is being established in the old terminal building, the Technical University of Berlin is also planned to be relocated to the area. All of the aforementioned properties will be included in the German army's strategic real estate reserve. This reserve is intended to provide short-term solutions for the army's increasing infrastructure needs in the future. The decision covers 187 former military real estate properties owned by the Federal Real Estate Agency (BImA). Unlike previous decisions, these properties will not be decommissioned.
Among the affected areas are the former air base in Fürstenfeldbruck and parts of Tegel Airport in Berlin, which has been closed to civilian flights. The transformation process, which had been ongoing since the abolition of compulsory military service in the country, has been halted by the adopted moratorium decision. According to the Ministry, the army will closely cooperate with state governments, cities, and municipalities at every stage of the process. The Berlin state's plan to build a new center in Tegel to house 3,000 migrants has been thrown into uncertainty by this decision. Furthermore, the construction of a new urban district with approximately 5,000 apartments in the eastern part of the airport is also targeted.