Ammunition shortage in the Bundeswehr: wait and see?

Status: 11/28/2022 4:33 p.m

The German Bundeswehr suffers from a massive lack of ammunition. Criticism had therefore already been given by SPD leader Klingbeil. Now a meeting with representatives of the defense industry is taking place.

By Kai Clement, ARD Capital Studio

Imagine it’s war and you’re running out of ammunition. In Germany maybe after just a few days? “Well, I know very well that we will not answer the question,” government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said. “Not because not only can’t we, but because it’s also classified information.”

Classified means: relevant to safety. Therefore, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit does not want to comment. On the other hand, it is no secret that it will take 20 billion euros in the coming years to buy enough ammunition in accordance with NATO specifications. They state: Reserves for 30 days of warfare are to be kept in stock.

Klingbeil criticizes the arms industry

SPD leader Lars Klingbeil thinks that the armaments industry should have adjusted to this and ramped up production at the latest since the chancellor’s turning point speech in February. “I would have expected that on February 24th, on February 27th, with the Federal Chancellor’s speech, where there was a clear signal – that this would be done.”

His impression instead: wait and see what politics has to offer, said the SPD leader yesterday in the ARD-Broadcast Report from Berlin. This view is as wrong as it is demotivating, countered today Hans Christoph Atzpodien from the Federal Association of the German Security and Defense Industry. From medium-sized companies to the very big ones, companies always made advance payments at their own risk – even without an order list.

The Department of Defense is experiencing a both-and. There is a broad spectrum in the industry, says Arne Collatz. “I don’t think you can go there either the arms industry, because there are certainly companies that make advance payments and expand production capacities, while others are more reactive and are waiting for concrete order management,” says Collatz.

“Had been missed for years”, Stephan Stuchlik, ARD Berlin, on the lack of ammunition in the Bundeswehr

tagesschau24 4:00 p.m., 28.11.2022

A meeting – not a summit

Today, representatives of the armaments industry meet in the Chancellery to discuss ammunition. Marie-Agnes Strack Zimmermann thinks it’s overdue. “We asked in March for such a group to come together in the Chancellery,” said the FDP defense expert.

But it is not a summit, government spokesman Hebestreit said. It’s about fundamental production issues, such as how quickly and how continuously something like this can be produced. “But that’s at the official level, according to Hebestreit. And that’s more of an informational meeting.” Union faction leader Johann Wadephul isn’t enough. He accuses Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) of “an incredible failure”.

1.13 billion earmarked for 2023

The Union should rather question its own policies, said Green defense expert Sara Nanni in the Bundestag last week. After all, the downsizing of the Bundeswehr goes back to the 2011 reform – and thus consistently to CDU/CSU ministers. “The project was planned by zu Guttenberg. It was carried out by de Mazière. Not corrected by Ms. von der Leyen and not by Ms. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer,” says Nanni.

Around 1.13 billion euros are now earmarked for ammunition procurement for the coming year. For future projects – such as drone armament – the special fund should also be tapped. However, the long list of problems includes two more: If ammunition production were to run at full speed now, the Bundeswehr would not even have enough depots to store it. And: China of all places also plays an important role as an intermediate supplier in ammunition production.

The Bundeswehr in search of ammunition – meeting in the Chancellery

Kai Clement, ARD Berlin, November 28, 2022 3:05 p.m

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