Soldiers of the 33rd Panzergrenadier bataillon stand ready for inspection in front of a Puma infantry fighting vehicle after taking part in a drill at the headquarters of the 33rd Panzergrenadier bataillon in Neustadt am Ruebenberge on June 29, 2016. Photo by AFP
L.A. Times: Broken fighter jets, grounded helicopters and idled tanks: Germany's military is ailing
There are so few German army helicopters available for the troops that pilots have been forced to train in bright yellow civilian choppers leased from the German Automobile Club.
A chronic shortage of spare parts and assorted technical woes has grounded 29 of the Bundeswehr's 130 camouflage-green colored helicopters. Acute shortages of parts have also left only 39 of the Luftwaffe's 128 Eurofighter jets combat-ready — idled along with nearly half of the armed forces' 224 Leopard tanks and five of its six submarines.
No country in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance has savored the "peace dividend" as much as Germany, which slashed military spending in half after the Cold War. And no country in NATO has drawn more criticism from President Trump for not carrying its own military weight than Germany.
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WNU Editor: Germany has the 9th largest defense budget in the world .... so something is definitely wrong when much of their military is simply inoperable.
More News On Problems In The German Military
German defense budget angers critics — including the defense minister -- Defense News
German Military Struggles on Eve of Taking Reins of NATO Crisis Response Force -- Sputnik
As Germany prepares for NATO crisis-response role, its military readiness is ‘abysmal’ -- Stars and Stripes
NATO's 'Two Percent Is Not Fetish': Merkel Hints at Larger Defense Budget -- Sputnik
Merkel defends German military spending goals -- Xinhuanet
Donald Trump rails against German defense spending shortfall -- DW
'Longstanding Shortfall': Trump Slams Germany for Being Slow on Defense -- Sputnik
Trump’s Ambassador Says U.S. Wants ‘Credible’ German Plan for Defense -- Bloomberg
5 comments:
This isn't advanced orbital mechanics. Germany has for decades spent around 1% of its GDP on its military. Not enough money to go around to ensure it's authorized forces are well maintained. After all Germany was in fine shape til the Berlin Wall went down.
Germany doesn't prioritize the military very highly, the results speak for themselves.
Let's keep them in reserve nes pas?
9th largest defense budget on paper, yes. We have to differentiate between active units and administration.
I have said it before; Europe have no will to defend itself actively, they have always depended on the US and always will.
In the unlikely scenario that the Russians would be stupid enough to invade a part of Europe, the US would help. No matter what. And the politicians knows that.
The .only. reason why europe countrys even has army's today is to conserve what knowledge and tradition they still have of warfare. That's why they have these small "elite" army's running around and intervene everywhere. But a big traditional and conventional army? Forget it.
Hans,
Your comment on why they keep small units active and busy is spot on. They do not want to lose the knowledge on how to fight a war.
The answer is pols like Herr Merkel.
A dirty, nasty pol like Merkel will slash the military budget and take the 'saved' money to buy votes with this or that program.
The Master of Lake-town and Merkel could be fraternal twins.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pj0IYWPdHQU
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