Bundeswera’s confidential report describes Ukraine’s problems with German weapons

What is Ukraine’s experience with German weapons? According to a confidential document from the Bundeswehr, which is available to NDR, WDR and SZ, there are serious problems with the German weapons systems delivered to Ukraine. What is known?

Technical problems, too little ammunition

In the classified transcript of the presentation that the WDR and NDR public media, as well as the Zuddoiche Zeitung newspaper (CC), listed eight weapons systems that Germany provided to Ukraine. Here’s what the privacy document reports:

– The Patriot missile complex, which is generally a « excellent arms system », is inappropriate for use in war, since the vehicle carrying the unit is « too outdated and the manufacturer no longer supplies spare parts, » the protocol said.

Sobering

The conclusion of the military diplomat sounds quite sobering: « Almost no German large -scale equipment is entirely fit for war. » The report also draws another conclusion: « The complex technique remains unused (…) the operational value of the ultra -modern and sophisticated large -scale technique remains low if the troops cannot repair on site. »

According to Bundeswehr sources, Ukraine is in a special situation: the fact that in recent years many Western countries have supplied different equipment has forced the Ukrainian armed forces to greatly improvise. They lack experience in working with Western weapons systems, and soldiers often only undergo abbreviated training in their service.

On the other hand, it cannot be denied that the battlefields in Ukraine are currently being tested in real combat conditions, these weapons systems that have previously served the Bundeswehr mainly for training. In addition, they have been developed for a long time for other times, for example, in which there has been no mass use of drones as they are now.

And Germany may encounter these problems

And in an emergency, for example, if Russia attacks one of the Baltic countries, Article 5 of the NATO Collective Defense Treaty would be triggered and the Bundeswehr may have to participate in hostilities.

The ARD’s publication also said that both Rheinmetall and other German weapons companies refused to comment on WDR, NDR and Züdozhe Zeitung’s problems with the use of the mentioned German weapons systems.

Bureaucratic obstacles

Although Ukrainian staff are also trained how to repair machines, months often pass before that it happens – for example, with howitzers. According to Bundeswera representatives, this is often due to the missing spare parts, and German bureaucracy with its complex and prolonged procedures for issuing licenses for exporting military equipment makes things even more difficult. For example, it has long been known that tank howitzer 2000 is a vulnerable system: reports from Ukraine talk about frequent software problems, but also technically – the barrel of the cannon quickly overheats, which necessitates its replacement. In general, however, the howitzer is considered a powerful and precise weapons system, the ARD said.

From the transcript of the presentation of the German military diplomat in Kiev, it is also clear that the older German weapons systems are particularly valued in Ukraine – namely the Bundeswehr has already removed from weapons. The air-air armored machine, which is used mainly against Russian unmanned aircraft and cruise missiles, is considered « the most popular, efficient and reliable weapon system », according to the document. And for the infantry tank « Marder », the military attaché says the following: « A very popular combat machine used without restrictions. »

« Mass but also high -tech » weapons are needed

« However, this does not mean that in the future we must abandon modern high -tech weapons systems, » says Fr. General Hans-Latar Domrese: « We need both: mass and high-tech, » he tells Ard.

One of the important conclusions from Ukraine names the Green spokeswoman for security Sarah Nani: since the risk of damage to modern and much more complex equipment is higher, we need to have more weapons systems available. « We can no longer think within the current frames of small quantities available. Rather, we must assume that these systems have a long service life and must be serviced after damage and their repair. »

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