Expenditure incorrectly calculated: Lambrecht puts armament projects on a waiting list

The new era in defense policy announced by the chancellor as a turning point has resulted in a cross-off list.

Expenditure incorrectly calculated: Lambrecht puts armament projects on a waiting list

The new era in defense policy announced by the chancellor as a turning point has resulted in a cross-off list. Because the Court of Auditors accuses Defense Minister Lambrecht of "technical deficiencies," numerous armaments projects have to be thinned out.

According to a press report, Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht has shelved six armaments projects that were to be financed from the special fund to improve the equipment of the Bundeswehr. Among other things, the procurement of armored personnel carriers, naval ships and reconnaissance aircraft is affected, the "Welt am Sonntag" reported. Accordingly, the SPD politician reacted to criticism from the Federal Court of Auditors.

The federal government launched the 100 billion euro special fund after the start of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. It is intended to eliminate massive equipment shortages in the Bundeswehr in order to strengthen them in national and alliance defense. For this purpose, the government had presented a list of dozens of armaments that are to be procured.

The Deputy Inspector General, Lieutenant General Markus Laubenthal, informed the Bundestag's Budget and Defense Committee that six initially planned armaments projects would be canceled for the time being and put on a waiting list, the "WamS" reported. The army and especially the navy are affected. Accordingly, the procurement of a successor model for the armored personnel carrier "Fuchs" of the army is postponed. The Navy had to do without a fifth and sixth frigate 126. And the number of Corvettes 130 will be reduced from ten to six.

The submarine defense system IDAS is to be further developed, but procurement has also been postponed. In addition, the number of Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft is to be reduced from twelve to eight. And finally, an unspecified "sub-project" in the rebuilding of close-range protection against threats from the air is omitted.

The newspaper reported that the reason for the deletions were technical errors in the procurement list initially drawn up by the ministry. Accordingly, the Federal Court of Auditors had criticized in an interim report for the budget deliberations in the Bundestag that the plans presented for the special budget had "significant deficiencies" and had to be "fundamentally" revised. According to the information, the spending limit of 100 billion euros was significantly exceeded and price increases and interest for the debts taken out for the special fund were not taken into account.

The six deletion projects would now be transferred from the special fund to the regular budget, reported the "WamS". However, it is rather unlikely that funds for procurement would become available there.