Defense budget: Even more money doesn't necessarily help

Defence Minister Ursula von Leyen calls for higher armaments expenditure. The Bundeswehr did not spend hundreds of millions of euros. How does that fit together?

Defense budget: Even more money doesn't necessarily help

How many derEurofighterkampfjets can stand out? 39 of 128. How many derTornadokampfjets? 26 of 93. And transport helicopters? 16 of 72. The Bundeswehr is only Beschränkteinsatzbereit – this is latest in-house assessment by Ministry of Defence. In order to change that, confederation wants to Rüstunginvestieren more money in future. But will that really help?

INSGESAMT38, EUR 5 billion are planned for defense budget, Denzweitgrößten item in federal budget in current year. That is 1, 5Milliarden euro more than last year – and according to Verteidigungsministern Ursula von Leyen (CDU) far too little. Siefordert much more money for her troop: instead of 5.5 billion to 2021, as federal Finance minister Olaf Scholz (SPD) proposes, she would like to have more than double.

Your calculus is simple. Financial upgrade should lead to better equipment. Nurwar This has not always been case in last legislature. Although armament expenditure (funds for research and purchase of new weapons systems) steadily increased, weapons systems DerBundeswehr partly remained in a desolate state.

"Dergrößte error in debate is that fight against DerDefizite is only result of an increase in financial resources. MehrGeld, however, does not automatically lead to better equipment or more efficient procurement, "said Dennis Rohde (SPD) on Wednesday during Bundestag debate on defense budget. Michael Leutert of Linkenäußerte is similar: "We have to find that we have no effective structures and bad management – that is problem of Bundeswehr. Not too little money. "

Joins: In recent years, armaments budget has never been vollständigausgeschöpft. Each year, more financial resources were deployed Alstatsächlich deployed.

2017 remained at end of year 700Millionen euros left, in two years before each 400Millionen euro, 2014 even 800 million euro. This is showing current figures from Ministry of Defence. The fact that planned and actually umgesetzteInvestitionen so far apart is mainly due to industry, according to a ministry spokesperson.

2017etwa could centres a frigate of type 125 not ready to purchase. Due to considerable deficiencies, ship was returned to ThyssenKrupp and two German shipyards for repair, still open purchase price of about 300 million euros refore not paid. In years before, projects were again led by armaments company Krauss-Maffei Winkelmann and Rheinmetall-produced riflemen Puma or Airbus-produced A400M ZumInvestitionsstau transport aircraft.

"That has nothing to do with serious budgetary policy"

The Ministry of Defence of AndereZwecke: personnel expenditures, renovation of barracks, investments in it, new clothing. So Zwarweniger money was invested in armor as planned, but Auchkein money was lost. "The Ministry of Defence has spent all funds available in Jahren2014, 2015 and 2016. Only in year 2017 could 0.2 percent of assist standing funds not be brought to issue, "soeine spokesperson of ministry.

The intention to alienate planned armaments investment is primarily lamenting opposition. " It is undeniable that y have spent entire budget. Her household istflexibilisiert like no or, "criticized green defense expert Tobias Lindner in Bundestag. Over past few years, minister has targeted funds for foreign missions and personnel too little, so that surplus armaments could be redistributed. "That has to do with serious budgetary policy Nichtszu."

So Fordertvon Leyen money she can't spend? The wirdvor depend on wher GroßeRüstungsprojekte will continue to delay industry in future. Then furr payments would be postponed backwards. First signs indicate investment congestion. At beginning of year kündigteAirbus that delivery of A400M transport aircraft ordered by Bundeswehr would take six years longer than planned.

Date Of Update: 18 May 2018, 12:02
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