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It’s now official: the US defence contractor Covenant plans to begin production of cruise missiles near Leipzig in just a few months’ time. A 30 km/h speed limit is set to make Theresienstraße in Eutritzsch safer and quieter in future. And: the go-ahead was given today at Störmthaler See for the construction of an inclusive campsite – the first of its kind in Germany. The LZ summarises the key events from Wednesday, 9 September 2026, in Leipzig and beyond.
Covenant plans cruise missile production
Production of the “Anthem” long-range cruise missile is set to begin near Leipzig as early as the first quarter of next year. This was announced today by the US defence contractor Covenant. The company, founded just two years ago, aims to produce around 1,000 units in its first year of production and subsequently reach an annual output of 5,000 cruise missiles. Covenant has leased a plot of land measuring approximately one hectare for this purpose, reports mdr.de.
The cruise missiles, which can carry warheads weighing 200 kilograms, are intended for supply to European armed forces. The cost per unit is described as a “six-figure sum”. The Central German Institute for the Security Industry (MISI) in Leipzig sees Covenant’s establishment as a “strong signal for Central Germany as a centre for security and defence”. It would mean new jobs, investment and a boost for suppliers and skilled workers in the region, according to the association’s chairman, retired Major General Markus Kurczyk.
However, not all Leipzig residents are enthusiastic about the new defence industry site on their doorstep. As early as the beginning of the month, when Covenant was still merely a rumour, a petition entitled “The City of the Peaceful Revolution must not become a city of weapons!” went online. The Leipzig-based organiser, Ute Apel, aims to call for transparency, public participation and an open debate on the possible consequences of the US company Covenant establishing itself in the Leipzig region. Just under 700 signatures have been collected so far.
30 km/h speed limit imposed on Theresienstraße
Too loud, too dangerous! To improve safety for all road users and reduce noise pollution, the City of Leipzig has introduced a 30 km/h speed limit on Theresienstraße in Eutritzsch. This applies to the approximately 1.1-kilometre stretch from Dieselstraße – just before Maximilianallee – to the railway bridge just before Delitzscher Straße. As the 33rd Primary School and the ‘Homannplatz’ playground, amongst other facilities, are located in the immediate vicinity of Theresienstraße, this speed restriction reduces the risk of accidents, particularly for schoolchildren, pedestrians and cyclists.
The second key factor here is noise reduction. This section of road is classified as a designated noise hotspot, regularly exceeding the permitted levels of 65 decibels during the day and 55 decibels at night – with harmful effects on health to boot. Measures are now to be taken to counteract this, in accordance with the noise action plan.
In addition, the carriageway and cycle lanes between the railway bridge and Maximilianallee will be re-marked. The traffic lights at the junctions with Wittenberger Straße and Anhalterstraße will also be upgraded to be more energy-efficient. From Monday 21 September, the construction work required to implement these measures will begin. This will cost around 140,000 euros and is expected to be completed during October.
Inclusive campsite at Lake Störmthal
Normally, he holds the reins at Leipzig City Hall, but today Mayor Burkhard Jung (SPD) swapped them for the controls of an excavator. At Lake Störmthal, he was one of the many officials who performed the symbolic ground-breaking ceremony – in this case, the start of excavator operations – for the construction of the inclusive campsite.
The fact that, alongside Jung, Petra Köpping (Minister of State for Social Affairs, Health and Social Cohesion), Regina Kraushaar (Minister of State for Infrastructure and Regional Development), Henry Graichen (District Administrator of the Leipzig district), Daniel Strobel (Mayor of the municipality of Großpösna) and Peter Böhmer (Operations Manager at SEB, the project developer) were also present at the ceremonial start of construction, demonstrates the significance of the project. The federal and state governments have allocated no less than 33.7 million euros for this, mainly under the Coal Regions Investment Act.
This is what the site might look like in future. Visualisation: Irlenbusch von Hantelmann Architects
On a site covering around seven hectares on the southern shore of the lake, under the motto ‘Camping for All’, accessible holiday and day-trip options
for people with and without disabilities will become just as commonplace as a home for children and young people in two residential groups providing integration support, alongside everyday life featuring animal-assisted activities. At the heart of this three-part ‘village structure’ are holiday homes – including those for guests with severe multiple disabilities – accessible tiny houses, and pitches for motorhomes, caravans and tents. Nothing like this has existed in Germany before.
“The inclusive campsite is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when the city, the local council and the district work together,” says Burkhard Jung. “I would like to see participation and inclusion like this more often, across city boundaries.” According to current plans, construction work is set to last until the end of 2028.
What the LZ reported on today:
LZ-KlimaTV, episode 2 with fruit grower Dieter Figura: We’re running out of time
New PISA shock: Saxony’s school system is also leaving 15-year-olds completely frustrated
2027 mayoral election: The Alliance 90/The Greens want to see Wolfram Günther in the town hall
Hello Leipzig: This is how Wednesday, 9 September 2026 begins
7,500 cubic metres: The Elster basin is once again being cleared of sediment
The lights will go out in December: Cut funding spells the end for the Environmental Library
Other important news:
Finance Minister Christian Piwarz (CDU) and State Parliament President Alexander Dierks (CDU) today marked the start of construction of the new extension to the Saxon State Parliament in Dresden with a symbolic ground-breaking ceremony. The new building, situated on the open space between the State Parliament and the conference centre, is an essential prerequisite for the subsequent comprehensive refurbishment of the existing building. It will house additional office space and a modern technical centre.
Today’s general debate in the Bundestag was marked by a heated atmosphere following the AfD’s recent election victory in Saxony-Anhalt. AfD parliamentary group leader Alice Weidel accused the federal government, amongst other things, of “total failure” and “war propaganda”. “You are a destructive force,” retorted Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) to the AfD. Due to repeated disruptive heckling from the AfD parliamentary group, Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU) was forced to intervene and even threaten to expel MPs.
Just as Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on US imports came into force, the trade dispute between the US and Canada is escalating. For his part, US President Donald Trump now intends to ban imports of dairy products, many alcoholic beverages and motorbikes from Canada. According to zdfheute.de, the value of the goods in question is in the single-digit billions of dollars. Trump aims to put even greater pressure on the Canadian government with this move.
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