Nuremberg isn’t particularly known as a centre within Germany’s defense, so we can’t talk about Nuremberg’s defense industry per se, but it’s an important link in Bavaria. The southern region of Germany has developed distinct centers for combat aircraft construction, which is where Bavaria’s investment in the aerospace sector comes in to play. This is, of course, in stark contrast to the upper half of the country, which specializes in naval shipbuilding and regional suppliers At the core of Bavaria’s operations is Airbus Defence and Space that’s headquartered in Munich, but also has a location in the neighboring Manching. The company has managed to extend its reach across all of Europe, amassing a workforce of over 34,000 employees. Munich is also the home of the headquarters of combat vehicle manufacturer KMW, while nearby Taufkirchen is home to defense electronics giant Hensoldt. All in all, Bavaria has carved a space for itself as the current largest defense industry cluster in Germany. Bavaria’s allure extends beyond these industry giants; it houses leading global systems companies, numerous suppliers and technical service providers. The state’s unique framework, supported by the Bavarian government, includes a range of measures that provide the necessary conditions to pursue pure innovation. Initiatives like the High-Tech Agenda Plus (HTA+) allocate additional funding to the aerospace sector, for instance, with great results. The aerospace industry in Bavaria is the backbone of the state’s defense sector. It’s here that aircraft, aircraft engines, helicopters, spacecraft and satellite navigation find their way across the skies everywhere in the world as much of the production is exported overseas. If we’re talking about scale, we have to mention that more than a third of the national aerospace sector (that’s counting engineers and technicians) is located in Bavaria – that’s 30,000 skilled professionals. Their collective efforts generate an annual revenue of approximately 11 billion euros.