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Skybird · 12-04-22, 04:27 PM

Are the Germans actually getting anything done...?

The possible risks revealed by SPIEGEL in the purchase of F35 fighter jets from the USA are causing nervousness and anger in Berlin:
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Bundeswehr's F35 deal worries traffic light politicians

Previously unknown risks in the Bundeswehr's introduction of the advanced F35 fighter jet are causing considerable unease within the Ampel coalition. After SPIEGEL reported for the first time last Thursday on previously unknown pitfalls in the 10-billion-euro project, various budget holders from the Bundestag notified the ministry of the need for talks. The pressure became so great that Parliamentary State Secretary Thomas Hitschler has scheduled a telephone call for Monday, 1 p.m., in which he hopes to allay the concerns of the MPs.

Details about the risks involved in the F35 project, which is intended to modernize the Air Force, emerge in the so-called 25-million-euro submission. The classified paper had been handed over to the budget committee in recent days as it is due to sign off on the first tranche of the budget for the 35 F35 jets shortly before Christmas. In total, the project will cost just under 10 billion euros. The first F35s are scheduled to arrive in Germany in 2027 and will be stationed at Büchel Air Base in Rhineland-Palatinate.

However, the ministry is apparently not entirely sure about the price. The prices are based on "conservative forecasts and derivations of the U.S. government" and are "expressly subject to adjustment," the document states. In addition, as with "all contracts, there are risks" - for example, because German standards might not be met or necessary approvals might not be granted. The passages raised questions among the members of parliament, since procurement for the German armed forces is considered to be very susceptible to breakdowns.

The most concrete risk concerns the Büchel air base. The document states that "a timely realization of the weapons system-specific infrastructure by 2026" under the above-mentioned conditions is "highly ambitious". "Time delays and additional financial requirements until completion of the infrastructure" must be expected, it says. The infrastructure refers to the modernization of the runway at Büchel, where U.S. nuclear weapons are stored, and the construction of new hangars for the F35.

The modernization of Büchel is considered a basic prerequisite for the F35 project. According to insiders, the work there must be completed by 2027, otherwise the U.S. will not send the jets for the air force. In principle, such a construction project in Germany is considered risky because of the short time involved. Nevertheless, the Air Force is confident that it is feasible. If the budget committee gives the green light, the line is, the project managers want to immediately give the go-ahead for the work that has already been prepared.

Consequently, the head of the Air Force expressed himself on Sunday almost angrily about the unrest in the coalition. The German Air Force's Twitter account quoted Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz as saying that when it comes to the F35, Germany is looking for problems where other European nations don't see any. "And neither do we, for that matter. Is the air there a different one?" said Gerhartz. The general had long fought for the F35 project because of the urgent need to replace the Air Force's completely outdated "Tornados." Consequently, Gerhartz engaged a task force very early on to ensure that nothing would go wrong with the F35.

Nevertheless, there is a great deal of uncertainty within the coalition. Almost more harshly than the opposition, members of the traffic light coalition are accusing Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) of not paying enough attention to the project. Lambrecht's party colleague Andreas Schwarz, for example, said in the newspaper "Bild am Sonntag" that it was "unacceptable that Parliament is only now learning about the problems". He expects "comprehensive clarification of how it intends to get the risks under control. This is just an attempt to get rid of responsibility." Green Party House Speaker Sebastian Schäfer also warned that there were "still many questions" for Lambrecht.

The defense policy spokesman for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Florian Hahn (CSU), even called for Lambrecht to be removed. "The troops and all of Germany have only to be ashamed about this new information. The question is whether there is incompetence or intention behind it," Hahn told the Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Addressing the chancellor, Hahn recommended replacing Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht "before it is too late."

From the ministry, however, came only empty phrases on Sunday. A spokesman merely stated that the ministry was in constant contact with parliament and provided information on major armaments projects.

For the German government, the wrangling over the F35 project is more than a trifle. Germany wants to use the U.S. fighter jets to ensure so-called nuclear sharing. In the event of an emergency, German fighter jets are to carry nuclear bombs stored in Büchel and deliver them to their target on behalf of NATO. If word got back to the U.S. that the Bundeswehr could not even manage to modernize Büchel, it would certainly cause a lot of ridicule.

But the construction work at Büchel is apparently not the only risk in the project. According to the submission, there is also a risk "that timely issuance of a national certification for flight operations would not be possible in a timely manner, as the relevant documents are not available (in a timely manner) or cannot be made available in the future due to legal requirements."

In addition, the F35A model currently "does not meet all air traffic control equipment requirements for flights under instrument flight rules and is not expected to meet them in the foreseeable future." As a result, there is "the risk that restrictions on flight operations must be expected in the event of deviations from the relevant requirements for operation in German, European and international airspace in accordance with instrument flight rules." In short: Christine Lambrecht has a problem.
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12-04-22, 04:27 PM	#1775
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 40,495 Downloads: 9 Uploads: 0	Are the Germans actually getting anything done...? The possible risks revealed by SPIEGEL in the purchase of F35 fighter jets from the USA are causing nervousness and anger in Berlin: -------------------- Bundeswehr's F35 deal worries traffic light politicians Previously unknown risks in the Bundeswehr's introduction of the advanced F35 fighter jet are causing considerable unease within the Ampel coalition. After SPIEGEL reported for the first time last Thursday on previously unknown pitfalls in the 10-billion-euro project, various budget holders from the Bundestag notified the ministry of the need for talks. The pressure became so great that Parliamentary State Secretary Thomas Hitschler has scheduled a telephone call for Monday, 1 p.m., in which he hopes to allay the concerns of the MPs. Details about the risks involved in the F35 project, which is intended to modernize the Air Force, emerge in the so-called 25-million-euro submission. The classified paper had been handed over to the budget committee in recent days as it is due to sign off on the first tranche of the budget for the 35 F35 jets shortly before Christmas. In total, the project will cost just under 10 billion euros. The first F35s are scheduled to arrive in Germany in 2027 and will be stationed at Büchel Air Base in Rhineland-Palatinate. However, the ministry is apparently not entirely sure about the price. The prices are based on "conservative forecasts and derivations of the U.S. government" and are "expressly subject to adjustment," the document states. In addition, as with "all contracts, there are risks" - for example, because German standards might not be met or necessary approvals might not be granted. The passages raised questions among the members of parliament, since procurement for the German armed forces is considered to be very susceptible to breakdowns. The most concrete risk concerns the Büchel air base. The document states that "a timely realization of the weapons system-specific infrastructure by 2026" under the above-mentioned conditions is "highly ambitious". "Time delays and additional financial requirements until completion of the infrastructure" must be expected, it says. The infrastructure refers to the modernization of the runway at Büchel, where U.S. nuclear weapons are stored, and the construction of new hangars for the F35. The modernization of Büchel is considered a basic prerequisite for the F35 project. According to insiders, the work there must be completed by 2027, otherwise the U.S. will not send the jets for the air force. In principle, such a construction project in Germany is considered risky because of the short time involved. Nevertheless, the Air Force is confident that it is feasible. If the budget committee gives the green light, the line is, the project managers want to immediately give the go-ahead for the work that has already been prepared. Consequently, the head of the Air Force expressed himself on Sunday almost angrily about the unrest in the coalition. The German Air Force's Twitter account quoted Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz as saying that when it comes to the F35, Germany is looking for problems where other European nations don't see any. "And neither do we, for that matter. Is the air there a different one?" said Gerhartz. The general had long fought for the F35 project because of the urgent need to replace the Air Force's completely outdated "Tornados." Consequently, Gerhartz engaged a task force very early on to ensure that nothing would go wrong with the F35. Nevertheless, there is a great deal of uncertainty within the coalition. Almost more harshly than the opposition, members of the traffic light coalition are accusing Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) of not paying enough attention to the project. Lambrecht's party colleague Andreas Schwarz, for example, said in the newspaper "Bild am Sonntag" that it was "unacceptable that Parliament is only now learning about the problems". He expects "comprehensive clarification of how it intends to get the risks under control. This is just an attempt to get rid of responsibility." Green Party House Speaker Sebastian Schäfer also warned that there were "still many questions" for Lambrecht. The defense policy spokesman for the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, Florian Hahn (CSU), even called for Lambrecht to be removed. "The troops and all of Germany have only to be ashamed about this new information. The question is whether there is incompetence or intention behind it," Hahn told the Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Addressing the chancellor, Hahn recommended replacing Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht "before it is too late." From the ministry, however, came only empty phrases on Sunday. A spokesman merely stated that the ministry was in constant contact with parliament and provided information on major armaments projects. For the German government, the wrangling over the F35 project is more than a trifle. Germany wants to use the U.S. fighter jets to ensure so-called nuclear sharing. In the event of an emergency, German fighter jets are to carry nuclear bombs stored in Büchel and deliver them to their target on behalf of NATO. If word got back to the U.S. that the Bundeswehr could not even manage to modernize Büchel, it would certainly cause a lot of ridicule. But the construction work at Büchel is apparently not the only risk in the project. According to the submission, there is also a risk "that timely issuance of a national certification for flight operations would not be possible in a timely manner, as the relevant documents are not available (in a timely manner) or cannot be made available in the future due to legal requirements." In addition, the F35A model currently "does not meet all air traffic control equipment requirements for flights under instrument flight rules and is not expected to meet them in the foreseeable future." As a result, there is "the risk that restrictions on flight operations must be expected in the event of deviations from the relevant requirements for operation in German, European and international airspace in accordance with instrument flight rules." In short: Christine Lambrecht has a problem. -------------------------- __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.