Germany’s armed forces are testing a robotic kitchen system designed to improve the quality and efficiency of meals served to troops. At the Hugo Junkers barracks near the Danish border in Schleswig-Holstein, the Bundeswehr is piloting the CA-1, an automated cooking unit developed by Munich-based Circus Group. The system aims to address long-standing dissatisfaction among soldiers with the standard military meals, which have historically been derided as unappetizing and limited in variety.
The CA-1, which costs approximately €265,000 (£223,000) to acquire and runs between €3,000 and €8,000 per month in operating expenses, can produce over 200 dishes per hour. It operates with minimal human intervention, requiring about an hour of manual input daily. The machine’s mechanical arms prepare a range of meals including penne in cream and truffle sauce, fusilli bolognese, chili con carne, and Kaiserschmarrn, a traditional Austrian pancake, aiming to deliver more nutritious and visually appealing options than the conventional “stew cannon” vats used by field kitchens.
Nikolas Bullwinkel, CEO of Circus Group, described the CA-1 as a compact cafeteria condensed into seven square meters, designed to offer the simplicity of modern coffee machines but capable of producing more complex dishes. Feedback from soldiers at the barracks has been generally positive, with some willing to pay more for robotic-prepared meals, despite the standard three-course army mess costing less than €6 compared to approximately €7.50 per serving from the robotic system.
The pilot program coincides with Germany’s ongoing military expansion and modernization efforts, which include increasing personnel and associated logistical demands. The automation of food preparation is viewed as one approach to support growing troop numbers while improving meal quality and availability beyond traditional limited serving hours.
Beyond Germany, the CA-1 has attracted international interest. The Ukrainian military has reportedly acquired several units to support its forces, and technology company Meta plans to install one of Circus Group’s robotic kitchens at its London office in the near future. This suggests broader potential applications for fully automated culinary systems in both military and civilian settings as the technology advances.