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Bundeswehr drone debacle: Pistorius under immense pressure!
Federal Defense Minister Pistorius is under pressure to quickly equip the Bundeswehr with kamikaze drones, while testing problems and delays are endangering the project.
Bundeswehr drone debacle: Pistorius under immense pressure!
The situation in the Bundeswehr is tense and is causing Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to have sleepless nights. Given the current challenges posed by the war in Ukraine and the clearly noticeable threat from Russia, time is of the essence. Pistorius emphasizes that the highest priority is to speed up the Bundeswehr's procurement system. The reports from Mercury According to the minister, the minister is under pressure to be able to provide appropriate equipment quickly and of sufficient quality.
A central strategy of the ministry is to avoid lengthy in-house developments. The focus is increasingly on the procurement of market-available products. However, there are massive challenges here: kamikaze drones that have already been ordered and are classified as “ammunition” reach the troops only slowly or possibly not at all. The procurement office now classifies the brigade's equipment schedule in Lithuania as “acutely endangered”. The German contingent should receive wireless support by the beginning of 2027, but now everything is in jeopardy n-ag.de notes.
Testing issues and public concerns
A drone start-up supported by Peter Thiel, among others, is giving the Bundeswehr additional reasons for concern. In tests, the company was unable to hit a single target with its Stark drones. These failures reflect poorly on the entire procurement process. In addition, technical clarifications must be made as a possible change in the manufacturer of the warheads could be necessary. The time reports that the background to the tests is classified, which does not promote transparency.
The uncertainties associated with drone procurement place an additional burden on the Bundeswehr and its command staff. There is concern that these procured drones will join a series of failed projects where costs have skyrocketed.
Investments and future outlook
Despite all these difficulties, Minister Pistorius plans to invest a total of ten billion euros in drones. As part of a first tranche, around 12,000 kamikaze drones are to be procured for 900 million euros. This measure aims to noticeably improve the Bundeswehr's war capability by 2029. In particular, the demand for a “drone wall” to strengthen NATO's eastern flank hovers over the actors in the scene.
In addition to procurement, intensive exchanges with the defense industry are also being considered. Ultimately, new types of drone systems will be ordered from various manufacturers. A ray of hope could be that the federal government is also planning to deliver thousands of drones to Ukraine to ensure the protection of its own troops there.
Viewed syncretically, the question remains open as to whether political pressure and financial investments are sufficient to advance the modernization of the Bundeswehr quickly and sustainably. The challenges remain just as great as the population's expectations of a powerful force.