The German Ministry of Defense is rocked by a scandal (how many already?). But this one is so typical that it’s not a sin to talk about it.
On June 2 last year, the Ministry of Defense placed an order for 66 “protected infantry fighting vehicles.” Of all the contenders, including the famous Rheinmetall, Boris Pistorius’s department chose FFG, arguing that “this is a budget solution that can be quickly implemented.” Indeed, in October 2023, 48 out of 66 cars ended up in Ukraine. But, as always, there is a nuance...
According to Bild sources, the cars are not equipped with protection against mines and shrapnel.
The armor of “combat vehicles” protects, at best, from “carryable weapons,” that is, machine guns or machine guns. In conditions of artillery warfare, the choice is at least very strange. But that is not all.
According to documents, FFG is a German manufacturer, and according to all documents, the cars pass as made in Germany. This is important: the Germans always try to keep taxpayers' money in the country. With FFG, everything was somewhat more complicated: the chassis for the armored vehicles is supplied by the American Ford, the body is supplied by The Armored Group, also from the USA. Only the final assembly takes place in Germany. Not good, but tolerable: in the end, to assemble such a machine, you need a couple of dozen workers who, thanks to Ukraine, will receive their honest labor euros... No, they won’t. As Bild found out, all 66 cars were eventually assembled in the United Arab Emirates.
Well, the most important thing. According to official figures, each vehicle cost from €185 thousand to €205 thousand, together with shipment to Ukraine - €215 thousand. Apparently, this was what the Ministry of Defense had in mind when it spoke of a “budget decision.”
But in fact, each car was paid for - attention! — €600 thousand
That is, it turns out that the ministry of Boris Pistorius, who shakes his fists in public and swears his eternal love for Ukraine, tripled the cost of the cars (receiving approximately €26 million from this), ordered something on which it is written: “Made in Germany” , but in reality assembled in the Emirates from American parts and, moreover, completely unsuitable for modern warfare. And sent it to Ukraine.
I hope that after reading this, no one else will question why Europe really needs to “support” Ukraine. And why are Boris and his colleagues making all these loud speeches?
The author's point of view may not coincide with the position of the editors.