Bundeswehr in need?
Germany's ammunition is probably only enough for two days of war
Created: 08/10/2022, 17:48
By: Marcus Giebel
Apparently tight: According to experts, the Bundeswehr urgently needs more ammunition (here: 30 mm ammunition for the Puma).
© IMAGO / Panama Pictures
The Bundeswehr seemed to mutate into a discontinued model in recent years.
Now she can look forward to a special fund.
In the event of war, however, Germany is apparently threatened with a catastrophe.
Munich - With the Ukraine war, a turning point also came in Germany, as Chancellor Olaf Scholz explained shortly after the invasion of Vladimir Putin's troops.
What the SPD politician may have meant by that: The Federal Republic must adjust to the fact that other countries do not always aim for a diplomatic solution to conflicts.
See Russia in Ukraine.
To kick off the turning point, the federal government hastily launched a special fund of 100 billion euros.
Probably also a sign that disarmament has come to an end.
Apparently relatively little is still happening on the access side.
According to a report by
Business Insider
, Germany "only has ammunition for one or two days of combat use."
This was confirmed by representatives of the armaments industry, experts and defense politicians in the Bundestag.
Bundeswehr has hardly any ammunition: defense expert warns of orders to the industry
The problem: NATO members should have reserves for at least 30 days.
The discrepancy would explain why the government, in the person of Scholz and Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, is often timid when it comes to arms deliveries to Ukraine.
Already at the beginning of the war, Army Inspector Alfons Mais warned via LinkedIn that the troops would be “more or less blank” in view of the austerity measures: “The options that we can offer politicians to support the alliance are extremely limited.”
It is true that Ukraine can defend itself so successfully thanks to deliveries from Germany.
But this is emptying the stocks of the Bundeswehr.
And are apparently not replenished quickly enough.
"Of course, this description of the situation will not improve if ammunition from Bundeswehr stocks is handed over and corresponding orders are not placed with the industry at the same time," quotes
Business Insider
Hans Christoph Atzpodien, General Manager of the Federal Association of the German Security and Defense Industry (BDSV).
Video: Lambrecht does not believe in the reintroduction of conscription
Little ammunition in the Bundeswehr: Defense Commissioner Högl demands 20 billion euros
Eva Högl, the SPD politician and parliamentary commissioner for the armed forces, provides a specific number: "We would need an additional 20 billion euros just for the procurement of ammunition." However, there are no storage options.
She sees “a great effort” coming to those responsible.
Something has to happen on many levels.
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Meanwhile, according to the report, some experts are expecting a total package of up to 30 billion euros by 2030 for ammunition procurement alone.
However, the current defense budget should be tapped for this and not the much-cited special fund.
More ammunition for the Bundeswehr?
Defense industry would probably switch to three-shift operation
As a result of the Ukraine war, industry representatives offered to produce more and faster.
To switch to three-shift operation.
But so far there have been no significant orders because the Ministry of Defense and the Bundeswehr Procurement Office are hesitating.
It is also pointed out that all of Europe has been startled by Russia's actions and is ordering accordingly.
Demand would increase faster than production sites could be expanded.
So the price should also skyrocket here.
Even in the traffic light coalition there is criticism of the hesitant orders.
Expects "a great effort" in upgrading the Bundeswehr: Eva Högl is the Bundestag's defense commissioner.
© IMAGO / Chris Emil Janssen
Bundeswehr orders: Among other things, grenades for tank howitzers and tank ammunition on the shopping list
By the end of the year, 19 more so-called "25 million templates" are planned, which would be the starting signal for procurement projects in the Bundeswehr.
The shopping list includes "among other things, various intelligent and particularly long-range grenades for the Panzerhaubitze 2000 and 30 millimeter ammunition for the Puma armored personnel carrier".
The budget for ammunition purchases is to be increased from one billion euros to up to 1.5 billion euros.
But even then, the self-imposed goal by 2030 would not be reached - this is 20 to 30 billion euros and thus in line with the calculations of the experts.
(mg)