The German Ministry of Defense has awarded Rheinmetall a contract on behalf of Ukraine to supply 35mm ammunition for the Gepard anti-aircraft gun tank. The Ukrainian Forces will receive a total of 300,000 rounds. The main goal of the ammunition is to support the Ukrainian armed forces. These forces are using the Gepard in the…
The “Zeitenwende” is more than just a word. It is an instruction that needs to be convertred into armaments efforts, cohesion, a comprehensive approach, defence strategy and national security policy. Major General (ret.) Reinhard Wolski, chairman of the Berlin Security Conference, summarizes the discussions throughout the event on the Blue Sofa. Watch the entire interview…
There is a lot of confusion around what the German “Zeitenwende” actually means. MP and BSC congress president Wolfang Hellmich visited our Blue Sofa and talked on speed and aquisition in the context of the special funds earmarked for the German armed forces and the legal hurdles that go along with it. As well as…
Paid by the Bundeswehr Special Fund, Bundeswehr Medical Service is receiving new airborne mobile rescue centres. Among other equipment the light medical facilities, in which emergency medical and surgical first aid is provided to patients, have an ambulance, an operating theater and intensive care capacities. Last week, German procurement agency BAAINBw commissioned the company M.…
The special fund of €100 billion is a statement and symbolic number for the will of German government to transfer Bundeswehr into a capable and empowered armed force again. After more than a decade of cost-cutting, which was named focus on deployment, capability for national and alliance defence is at stake. Shortage within Bundeswehr starts…
NATO’s strategic concept, which has been resolved in Madrid, focuses on collective defence and regional responsibility. With this it heralds a shift of paradigm. Rightfully so, says General (ret.) Jörg Vollmer, Strategic Advisor for the BSC and Behörden Spiegel. In this shift the European section of NATO needs significantly increase it’s contribution to European Defence…
In the event of war, Germany makes up an important transit country. The necessary competences and forces for this, need to be carried by society as a whole. Lieutenant General Martin Schelleis, Chief of the German Joint Support and Enabling Service, emphasizes the current tasks for the German Joint Support and Enabling Service on the…
The Norwegian government announced that it is procuring 54 Leopard 2 A7 for the Norwegian armed forces. The German Leopard thus prevailed against competition from South Korea, among others. First of these new battle tanks are to be delivered to Norway as early as 2026. “The new tanks will increase combat power of our armed…
More than 130 obstructions were caused by drones at Germany’s airports in 2022. The use of these often very small systems – especially by individuals – continues to increase. Now the Bundeswehr University in Hamburg has developed a drone that can intercept unauthorised drones at airports. The system was developed as part of FALKE research…
Britain’s new Ajax armoured vehicle is back on track. “We have turned a corner,” UK’s Minister of State for Defence Procurement at the Ministry of Defence, Alex Chalk, told the Commons Defence Committee. “A great deal of work has taken place and it has successfully completed its trials.” As recently as the end of December,…