German DoD last Wednesday released the new biannual report on major #Bundeswehr defence projects. Not worth doing a line by line overview, but there are still some interesting bits and pieces both said and not said, given recent budget adjustment. Quick 🧵 on selected programs.
Most conspicuously absent from this list: P-3C Orion & successor P-8A Poseidon. Interesting because of recent reports re substantially increasing the fleet from five to twelve AC, still not confirmed by DoD.
Also notably absent is F-35, though it gets mentioned under "Tornado".
Now onto individual programs.
Tiger: Mk III decision still a big question mark. Text repeats previous blurb of chief considerations and points to a decision to be taken "mid 2022". Which a casual glance reveals to be now. 🤷♂️
Ch-47F: Unlike Poseidon the program gets its own entry. Nothing much in there except contract signature now hoped for early 2023.
Pegasus SIGINT: First airframe arrived in GER 08/21 for integration. Second airframe to be delivered "mid '22", third and last before end of '22.
K130: Hulls 11-15 get a mention. These should replace first batch hulls instead of paying for MLU. Framed as "The fundamental decision to procure a further five boats (...) continues to be followed." whatever that means exactly.
U-212CD: If you hoped to read about the rumoured extra hulls to be bought with the special budget-money, you are being disappointed. BUT: It's very interesting that the remark from previous report how 212CD will inform MLU work for 212A boats has been dropped without replacement.
F126 frigate: Same on frigates, the rumoured purchase of hulls no 5 and 6 is not being specified beyond the statement that realisation of this option has to be clarified no later than June 2024. So I guess don't expect an announcement too soon here.
Puma IFV: No mention of second batch beyond pointing fingers at the yet to be decided force mix for Army "medium forces" (ie how many Puma vs wheeled IFV solution).
TLVS/MEADS: He's dead Jim. While the program continues its zombie-presence in report, new remark "Patriot can match capabilities via modernisation and continued use until 2048 from overall planning perspective should be clear preference." speaks for itself.
FCAS: "If no agreement can be reached that meets the interests of all three partners in regards to equal participation, continued cooperation should be questioned."
Unusually strong language for a report, this is obviously about the NGF pillar-differences.
That's all. /end
PS: Link to the actual document (duh!) here.
bmvg.de/resource/blob/…
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