Germany raises equipment readiness

Germany’s chief of defence staff (Generalinspekteur der Bundeswehr), General Eberhard Zorn, reported improvements in the readiness of the country’s military equipment to the Bundestag (parliament) defence committee, halting and in some cases reversing the downward trend.

In a letter dated 11 March addressed to the committee’s chair, member of the Bundestag Wolfgang Hellmich, the general reported an average of about 70% readiness of the nearly 10,000 pieces of equipment available to the Bundeswehr in 2018, excluding those undergoing maintenance or being upgraded. He added that this was despite German participation in Exercise ‘Trident Juncture 2018’ in preparation to lead the NATO Response Force’s Very high readiness Joint Task Force, plus 11 foreign deployments.

Gen Zorn gave as an example the “marked increase” in the readiness of the Boxer armoured vehicle, crediting the close co-operation of the procurement organisation, army command, and industry in upgrading the armoured vehicle while it was undergoing maintenance. He also noted a “positive trend” with the A400M transport, with the addition of 10 more aircraft and its certification as a tanker.

Gen Zorn attributed improved equipment readiness to the simplification of inspection systems and procedures, increased procurement of equipment and spare parts, and rising defence spending.

However, he admitted that “we have not achieved our target yet”, citing the U212A submarine as an example. He said no submarines were available for operations for five months of 2018 because of planned maintenance and equipment (battery) failures. Nevertheless, three submarines were available by the end of 2018, according to Gen Zorn.