If you look at footage from the Ukraine war, you can see again and again the intensity with which the fighting is being fought. In particular, the artillery on both sides was constantly firing at the enemy's positions. A report from the summer shows how intense the fighting is. Just four weeks after the Bundeswehr had delivered the Panzerhaubitze 2000 to the Ukrainians, the armed forces there reported that the tubes were worn out. The continuous fire has its price.
If Germany suddenly had to defend itself in a war, this problem would almost certainly not arise. The reason: Germany only has ammunition for one or two days of combat use.
This is confirmed by representatives of the armaments industry, experts and defense politicians in the Bundestag. Germany is thus lagging far behind its obligations. According to a NATO specification, the reserves should last at least 30 days.
The problem has been known for years, even training and exercises have suffered from it. Soldiers have been complaining about this for quite some time. In addition, Germany also supplies Ukraine with ammunition. How much can be tracked on the website of the federal government. These include, among others:
- 167,000 rounds of handgun ammunition
- 1,592 rounds of 155 mm artillery ammunition
- 255 rounds of Vulcano artillery ammunition 155 mm
- 30,000 rounds of 40mm ammunition
Anyone who is undersupplied and also sells material will quickly order new material - one would think so. Apparently that hasn't happened yet.
Hans Christoph Atzpodien, General Manager of the Federal Association of the German Security and Defense Industry (BDSV), sounds the alarm: "Of course, this description of the situation will not improve if ammunition from Bundeswehr stocks is handed over and corresponding orders are not placed with the industry at the same time," he said Business Insider.
How much ammunition is actually missing, says
Eva Högl, Defense Commissioner of the German Bundestag, Business Insider: “We would need an additional 20 billion euros for ammunition procurement alone. At the same time, there are not enough ammunition stores. That shows that a great deal of effort is still needed here.” Some experts say that a total package of up to 30 billion euros will be necessary by 2030. However, the ammunition is to be paid for from the current defense budget, not from the special fund.
Högl warns: "If the turning point is to succeed, then something has to happen on many levels." She mentions materials, personnel and infrastructure, but also procedures, processes, structures, responsibilities and responsibilities. Something has to change "so that full operational readiness is achieved."
Even deputies in the coalition are calling for more speed
The armaments industry is particularly irritated by the procedures and processes in the armed forces in relation to the procurement of ammunition. Industry representatives report that after Russia's attack on Ukraine, offers were made to produce faster and more, for example to switch to three-shift operation in factories. So far, however, there have been no significant orders. The Ministry of Defense and the procurement office of the Bundeswehr hesitated.
Parliamentarians and industry representatives also warn that production capacities in industry must be filled quickly. Because the whole of Europe, alarmed by the war in Ukraine, is ordering, the demand is increasing faster than the production sites can be expanded. If Germany waits too long, it would have to wait in line with its orders.
The hesitant action of the Ministry of Defense and the procurement office of the Bundeswehr also causes a lack of understanding in the coalition. MPs shake their heads at the fact that the issue is not progressing any faster. "We must finally pick up speed," says a parliamentarian from the coalition.
19 projects planned by the end of the year
After all, as Business Insider learned, 19 so-called “25 million templates” are planned by the end of the year. With these templates procurement projects are started at the Bundeswehr. Ammunition will also be purchased from a number of them, including various intelligent and particularly long-range grenades for the Panzerhaubitze 2000 and 30-millimeter ammunition for the Puma infantry fighting vehicle.
The budget for ammunition purchases is also to be increased. So far, one billion euros has been planned for this, there is currently a proposal to increase this sum by 237 million euros, and some MPs are even talking about an additional 500 million. But even that is not enough to achieve the self-imposed target of 20 to 30 billion euros by 2030.
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