Germany Unveils Huge Defence Cuts...

[MolliG]

BBC News Online

Germany unveils huge defence cuts

Germany has announced major cuts in military spending as it aims to revamp its armed forces.

Defence Minister Peter Struck says up to 26 billion euros (£18bn) will be cut from the budget for arms procurement, troops and military bases.

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/39736000/jpg/_39736865_1troopsap203cred.jpg
The cuts could include the loss of 35,000 troops

As Germany faces major financial restraints, Mr Struck said the plan was "about switching military planning from unrealistic projects back to realism".

Rural towns say they will be hard hit by the possible closure of 100 bases.

Mr Struck said that on top of the closures and spending cuts, the army would be cut by 35,000 troops to about 250,000.

"That will open up room for targeted weapons investment from 2012," he said.

Orders safe

Mr Struck said the cuts were part of a reform aimed at shifting the German armed forces away from traditional territorial defence and towards better fulfilling increasing international demands for peacekeeping and conflict prevention.

Despite the cuts, Mr Struck insisted Germany would honour procurement contracts that had already been signed such as the orders for 180 Eurofighter combat aircraft, the Tiger combat helicopter and NH90 transport helicopter.

However, projects such as upgrading the Patriot missile defence systems and plans to buy a pilotless reconnaissance drone for the navy, will be scrapped.

Opposition defence expert Guenther Nolting of the Free Democratic Party said that even if Mr Struck's plans were implemented, the "discrepancy between assignment, equipment and availability of financial funds" would continue to exist.

He said the military had been "chronically underfinanced" for years.

The spokesman of the association of towns and communities, Franz-Reinhard Habbel, told the Berliner Zeitung that the closure of military bases would be the "beginning of a catastrophe for many towns, especially where the military is the largest employer.

"Should it come to the closures, there must be compensation measures, and above all transition periods," he said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3395575.stm

[Dalleer]

Hmm, does this mean that we'll finally get some more Bundeswehr surplus items into the markets as well?

[Kitsune]

Hmmm...actually this is not a cut but a shifting of expenses: 26 billion € less for bases and troop strenght so that this money can be used for high tech equipment. Again a wrongly titled article. :roll:

[army cadet_ngcsu]

What the hell is Germany even doing with atleast 35,000 troops, I thought there were limits set up by the UN? How many troops all together do they have know?

[fantassin]

What the hell is Germany even doing with atleast 35,000 troops, I thought there were limits set up by the UN?

Have you heard that WW2 is over? Germany is your friend now. They also have the right to have an army....

[Rantanplan]

Now: 285.000 Soldiers

After the cuts: 250.000 Soldiers

[aeternum]

What the hell is Germany even doing with atleast 35,000 troops, I thought there were limits set up by the UN? How many troops all together do they have know?

We have around 283.000 soldiers. in 2010 we will be down to 250.000


Anyway here is a list of all the new equipment Germany will get, only in german tho but with pictures for our non german speaking guys. :)

http://www.bundeswehr.de/forces/040113_waffensysteme.php

[Ian H]

Well, judging from the article 250,000+35,000, so 285,000. This is probably the biggest in European Nato (correct me if I'm wrong), but is way down on their Cold War levels, which if I remember correctly were usually over 500,000 (again, correct me if i'm wrong, I'm working from memory here).

[mustamato]

Anyway here is a list of all the new equipment Germany will get, only in german tho but with pictures for our non german speaking guys. :)

http://www.bundeswehr.de/forces/040113_waffensysteme.php

http://www.bundeswehr.de/pic/wir/040112_500_pk_ec_tiger.jpg

Lovely bird. The Nordic countries is looking for a combined escort/attack-chopper as well, nothing has been decided yet. But atleast Finland and Sweden will both have a airborne battallion with the NH90´s, and they need some kind of escort. It will probably be the Tiger. As the Leopard is the "eurotank" this will probably be the "eurochopper".

[aeternum]

You can find more infos in english about the equipment at:

http://www.army-technology.com/projects/index.html
http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/index.html
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/index.html

[wholagun]

eeewwww that is some sweet **** you got goen on there. I hope that Poland will some day be able to buy some of that stuff. I really like the Puma very eager to see that in action (i like the design).

However Im not too enthusiastic about the Tiger chopper though, I don't like the design and it has no stealthy characteristics like the Comanche.

How much is all this new stuff costing? Can't be cheap I imagine.

[Chris1]

What the hell is Germany even doing with atleast 35,000 troops, I thought there were limits set up by the UN? How many troops all together do they have know?
Poor maths, comprehension and history.
The article states it is to be cut by around 35,000 to 250,000, 250,000 + 35,000 is?
Sometime around 50 ****ing years ago the US looked over the fence and realised that these Russian fella's were loitering and hired some german fella's to keep an eye on them while they went out and got drunk.
The Russian lads, keen on the vodka but with work to do, quickly hired some more Germans to watch the Germans watching the Russians, watching the Americans and thus the Cod war was born (or was that something to do with the poor navigation skills of the Vikings?)

[Pille1234]

Anyway here is a list of all the new equipment Germany will get, only in german tho but with pictures for our non german speaking guys. :)

http://www.bundeswehr.de/forces/040113_waffensysteme.php


I'm missing the new corvettes k130 in that list, that makes me bit nervous. I thought the ship building of the first one has already started?

[martinexsquaddie]

don't worry wholgun I'm sure your get a close up view of germanys new toys sooner than you'd like :(

[Uncle Chô]

Despite the cuts, Mr Struck insisted Germany would honour procurement contracts that had already been signed such as the orders for 180 Eurofighter combat aircraft, the Tiger combat helicopter and NH90 transport helicopter.
Where is the A-400M ?? Airbus Military Aircraft need a strong financial support from Germany to achieve this vital airmobility program :(

[He219]

The Duro, Mungo and Dingo sound like a Samba act!
;)


Airbus Military Aircraft need a strong financial support from Germany to achieve this vital airmobility program :(

What's up with the A 400M? Seems like more wasted money for it's development given the comparable C17 already in production. I guess you mean 'vital non-US-manufactured airmobility program', right?

P3 Orion! Sitll going strong.

I've been reading that the US will be buying advanced German Diesel U-Boats because we are lacking experience in detecting quiet modern diesel 'rouge' subs that the atomic boats just can't simulate.....

The Tiger needs to be sent to Iraq to test it's IR countermeasures.
;)

[seventy6er]

What's up with the A 400M? Seems like more wasted money for it's development given the comparable C17 already in production. I guess you mean 'vital non-US-manufactured airmobility program', right?


No cuts concerning the A-400 (60 units) and the Typhoon/Eurofighter (180 units).

[Pille1234]

Where is the A-400M ?? Airbus Military Aircraft need a strong financial support from Germany to achieve this vital airmobility program :(

Don't worry, the a400m program is absolutely safe. This was clearly expressed.

[FallenAngel]

Ya read that Ivy- germans are up-gunning to the A6 Leo ;)

I wonder what are the numbers for the different armor units in the German Army?

[wholagun]

don't worry wholgun I'm sure your get a close up view of germanys new toys sooner than you'd like :(

I don't understand what you mean?

I just hope that you guys decide to get rid of some good stuff and sell it to us for dirt cheap again. :D I mean better it be put to good use then go to waste right.

[martinexsquaddie]

rather sick sense of humour i'm afraid
Panzer tanks poland off to moscow :(