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The Bundeswehr expects significant deficiencies in the operational readiness of its armored forces in the coming year.
Due to the upcoming retrofitting of the Leopard II battle tank, a “tank dent” is to be expected, according to confidential army papers from October 2020 that are available to WELT AM SONNTAG.
The modernization of the Leopard II would then “have a tightening effect on the availability of the systems” until September 2021 and lead to “under-equipment”.
The tanks remaining in the force would have to be used more intensively, which "causes exceptional failure rates as well as corresponding maintenance and repair costs," it continues.
In addition, there would be a “still acute shortage of spare parts that makes it difficult to maintain operational readiness”.
Source: WORLD infographic
The Ministry of Defense describes the Leopard II main battle tank as a “stable system” in its readiness report presented this week.
According to WELT AM SONNTAG, in October 2020 only 115 of the 263 Leopard II battle tanks were operational, which is almost 44 percent.
In May 2019, 107 of 244 systems were ready for use, also just under 44 percent.
The influx of 19 more tanks therefore did not improve the clarity.
The figures for May 2018 (111 out of 244, 45 percent) and November 2017 (94 out of 244, 38 percent) show stagnation at a low level.
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In the same monthly windows as the Leopard II, the operational readiness of the Puma infantry fighting vehicle was 29 percent (102 of 343) in 2020, 21 percent in 2019 (56 of 262), 17 percent in 2018 (50 of 192) and in 2017 32 percent (49 of 154).
Despite constant deliveries of brand new tanks, the average value today is below that of 2017 - although the Puma was in the special focus of the so-called operational readiness initiative of Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU).
This text is from WELT AM SONNTAG.
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Source: Welt am Sonntag