[Skybird]

Now the main battle tanks that were handed over to Ukraine are being reordered - but nothing more. A further purchase option is only theory so far.

This model designation has not played a role in the months-long debates about military aid to Kiev. This has been about the most diverse variants of Leopard tanks, which were either exported to Ukraine from industrial stocks or supplied directly to the Ukrainian army from the Bundeswehr.

But reordering of these older or somewhat younger types is "no longer possible," according to the relevant contract documents. Now the Bundeswehr is are getting the very latest Leopard 2A8 as a replacement.

The decision will be made this Wednesday in the Budget Committee of the Bundestag. It is important if only because the Leopard 2 is known to be "the main weapon of the German tank force," according to the bill obtained by the Tagesspiegel. The gaps caused by the deliveries to Ukraine must be filled as quickly as possible, especially where the ability to defend the country is directly affected.

The Bundeswehr handed over a total of 18 of its most modern 2A6 main battle tanks to Ukraine after resistance to tank deliveries in the chancellery collapsed at the end of January under the impression of massive Russian attacks on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure. It is now to receive 18 of them again - at a purchase price of 525.6 million euros.

A good half a billion euros does not have to be the end of the line in this case either. As in the case of approvals for the new F35 fighter jets, the PZH 2000 self-propelled howitzers and the Puma infantry fighting vehicle, Boris Pistorius' (SPD) Federal Ministry of Defense is once again pointing to possible delays and cost increases. For example, it reckons with around 36 million euros a year in "follow-up or utilization costs" alone.

"Depending on further developments on the world market, particularly in the area of electronic components and other raw materials, the risk of a delay is assessed by the BMVg as medium to high," it also says. A contractual penalty shifts it at least partially away from the taxpayer and instead to the manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW).

The first Leopard2A8 is to be handed over to the Bundeswehr no later than 26 months after the order, which can take place immediately after approval by the Bundestag. A further ten months later, in the summer of 2026, the so-called firm order portion of the contract is then to be completed.

But it could also be for significantly more: The contract, which will be voted on by the Bundestag this Wednesday, includes an option for up to 105 additional main battle tanks at a price of another 2.3 billion euros. According to the contract documents, KMW has offered to produce an additional two main battle tanks per month from June 2026 onwards - provided the government exercises its option now.

This is apparently the order of magnitude that the force itself considers necessary. Currently, the Bundeswehr has 328 Leopard 2s - far fewer main battle tanks than during the Cold War.

CDU budget politician Ingo Gädechens points to the government's ambitious plans "to have the first fully operational division in place by 2025 and another one as early as 2027 - which will require, among other things, additional Leopard 2 tanks. Why not order enough on this occasion to cover the need?

He criticized the fact that "only what has been surrendered is being procured - despite all the Sunday speeches to the contrary, the German government is unable to make budget funds available for anything else.

[Tagesspiegel]


What remains of Babble-Olaf's boastful talk from last year? Schall - und ansonsten nicht einmal Rauch.