Germany really wants to turn the Bundeswehr into the strongest army in Europ. To gain the task, they are starting a comprehensive militarization. For example, it was recently reported that Germany wants to purchase 1,000 new Leopard 2 tanks as well as 2,500 Boxer armoured vehicles.
This is a very significant strengthening, as it will increase its tank fleet more than three times, as well as the armored personnel carriers fleet more than seven times. However, to confront russia, the threat from which has been growing like wildfire lately, such an increase will not be enough.
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As Hartpunkt learned from insiders, in addition to the already known plans for 1,000 Leopard 2 and 2,500 Boxer, Germany is currently discussing the possibility of purchasing another 400 PUMA infantry fighting vehicles, 500 tank-based support vehicles, 1,000 Piranha armored personnel carriers and 4,000 armored personnel carriers under the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) program, which is the Patria 6x6 in various modifications.
Leopard 2 tanks are likely to be purchased in the A7 and the most modern A8 modifications, since previous versions have already been discontinued. Boxer armored personnel carriers are planned to be ordered immediately in various modifications, the same applies to the Piranha and Patria 6x6 APCs, which are among the best in their class.
It is interesting that despite the problematic past of the PUMA infantry fighting vehicles, they continue to be ordered. And this is noticeable not only in the plans, but also in the orders already placed, for example, the Bundeswehr wants to allocate 4.7 billion euros for the purchase of new ones and the modernization of old ones.
In general, these armored vehicles should be received by all branches of the German Armed Forces, but especially the Ground forces, where it is planned to create a structure with four mechanized divisions. If Germany eventually agrees to purchase such a large amount of equipment, then Germany can well claim to have the most powerful army in Europe.
It is interesting that in all these thoughts about future purchases, artillery is not mentioned – Germany is probably going to order them separately later, or the Germans believe that the existing systems will be enough for them, and this is only about 250 self-propelled guns, MLRS and mortars of various calibers.
It is worth noting that Germany has already placed a fantastic order for 22 billion euros of ammunition and has guaranteed the order until 2037. It is also worth noting that Germany is also buying air defense systems, such as Israeli Arrow 3, which were ordered only two years ago.
In fact, ordering a large amount of equipment for Germany is not so difficult, but here another problem arises. All this equipment needs to be stored somewhere, and someone also needs to maintain and operate it. It takes a lot of time to train enough people to work with these armored vehicles.
In addition, the formation of new units requires many different resources as well as a lot of time too. So this is probably the only problem that is currently hampering the expansion of the Bundeswehr.
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