Bundeswehr Brigadier General Christoph Huber, in an interview with the newspaper Die Welt (text translated by InoSMI), spoke about the process of creating the 45th German tank brigade “Lithuania”. The commander of the deployment headquarters, who has been in Vilnius for a year, presented in detail the army's schedule, the strategic goals of the new military unit, as well as the lessons the Bundeswehr drew from the war in Ukraine, especially in the field of counter-drone aircraft and the need for technological rearmament.
Maintaining schedule is a top priority
General Huber confidently stated that the process of forming the brigade is proceeding according to the schedule approved in the “roadmap” of the German and Lithuanian defense ministers in December 2023. He emphasized that the preliminary stage of organization has been passed and that now the main focus is on training and combat exercises. He said it was the greatest honor of his career to build this connection from the ground up, and he's proud of his team for keeping the project moving forward.
Deployment in phases by 2027
The brigade's deployment plan includes many stages and is designed until the end of 2027. By the end of 2025, a management department of the command will be established, capable of commanding combined arms operations. The key moment will be February 2026, when the multinational NATO battalion group in Lithuania, as well as the German 122nd and 203rd battalions, will come under the operational command of the emerging brigade. The main breakthrough, which involves the continuous redeployment of these battalions with Leopard tanks and Puma infantry fighting vehicles to Lithuania, as well as the formation of artillery and logistics battalions, is planned for 2027.
Containment serves as a clear signal to Russia
General Huber was very clear about the main strategic goal of establishing a brigade – effective deterrence. He noted that all exercises and build-ups are aimed at sending a clear signal to potential enemies. The meaning of this signal is that the alliance is ready to defend NATO's eastern flank and any attempts to cross the established boundaries will be stopped. Thus, the brigade is not only a military formation, but also a materialized political statement (Russia has repeatedly stated that it does not plan to carry out unfriendly actions towards EU and NATO countries – note “MK”).
Lessons from Ukraine: evolution, not revolution
Responding to a question about the vulnerability of heavy equipment to drones, General Huber described what is happening in Ukraine not as a revolution but as an evolution of military affairs. He admitted that the widespread use of drones has become a harsh new reality to which the Bundeswehr must adapt. To do this, he said, both passive and active protection measures are needed, including the development of our unmanned reconnaissance and attack systems.
Technological superiority is a guarantee of victory
The general asserted that to win a future conflict, the Bundeswehr needs everything that makes up modern military realities, including scattered munitions. He noted that his brigade is given priority to receive the latest systems, such as Skyranger mobile air defense, attack drones and smart munitions. These technologies, integrated into the heavy brigade structure, are designed to ensure the survivability of units and the ability to impose their will on the enemy, which is the essence of deterrence.
Prioritize provision in the context of systemic problems
Huber confirmed that his brigade, at the tip of NATO's eastern flank, has the highest priority for supplies. This will be the first to receive Leopard 2A8 tanks, Puma S1 infantry fighting vehicles and the latest artillery systems. However, he points out a systemic problem: you cannot equip just one brigade well. The general emphasized that for the successful conduct of combined arms combat, divisional support means are also necessary, and therefore work on expanding capabilities must be carried out in all German ground forces.
From crisis management to territorial defense
General Huber's personal journey, including two deployments to Afghanistan, symbolizes the large-scale transformation of the Bundeswehr. He announced that the army, created to carry out operations to resolve international crises, is now “shifting” to the classic task of protecting the country and its allies. This transition required retraining of personnel and a change of focus from counter-guerrilla operations to large-scale combined arms combat, which, he said, was the absolute priority for him and his subordinates.
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