German defence firm to open tech centre at former Bosch site

German defence company Hensoldt will establish a new technology centre at a vacant production facility owned by household appliance and automotive components manufacturer Bosch, the company has said.

Hensoldt announced plans to open a software-based defence solutions and engineering centre in the Stuttgart region, employing around 300 people, Caliber.Az reports.

The facility is intended to rapidly supply the expanding defence technology sector with highly skilled workers from the automotive industry.

Under an agreement signed by the two companies, Hensoldt will lease unused Bosch premises in the Leinfelden industrial zone near Stuttgart. The defence company intends to recruit former Bosch employees, particularly software developers and electrical engineers.

"The aim is to retain valuable expertise in the region and to safeguard the future viability of Baden-Württemberg as a business location," the company noted.

The centre will specialise in software architecture for networked, upgradable defence systems and the optimisation of development processes. It will also develop the MDOcore software suite, designed for integrated command and control across multiple theatres of operation.

German defence companies have increasingly partnered with domestic car manufacturers in recent years, acquiring production sites and hiring workers from the automotive sector. The country's defence industry has expanded amid rising military spending in Germany and across Europe, while the automotive industry has struggled with high energy costs and growing competition from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers.

Bosch plans to cut around 22,000 jobs in the coming years, while Hensoldt expects to expand its workforce by about 1,600 employees in 2026.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov