The German Ministry of Defence, under the leadership of Boris Pistorius, is reportedly planning a significant acquisition of 200 additional “Puma” infantry fighting vehicles, totaling a commitment of €4.2 billion, according to a report in “Focus” magazine. The move has drawn scathing criticism, raising fundamental questions about the effectiveness of current defence procurement strategies and the prioritization of resources within the Bundeswehr.
Internal documents intended for the Bundestag, leaked and reported by “Focus”, paint a stark picture of the “Puma’s” operational status. Currently, only 86 out of a fleet of 350 vehicles are deemed “at least operational” a revelation that undermines the rationale behind the substantial new investment. The ministry attributes the decision to procure the additional vehicles, alongside associated industrial support packages, to the “current security situation” and a perceived “increased need” identified by General Inspector Carsten Breuer.
The acquisition plan is particularly contentious given the vehicles’ troubled history. During a combat manoeuvre exercise at the end of 2022, all 18 “Puma” vehicles deployed suffered complete failure. Continuous modifications are deemed necessary and even the most recent design iteration, reportedly available on only a limited number of vehicles, is described in the leaked documents as merely “an intermediate milestone on the path to achieving full operational readiness.
The decision has sparked sharp rebukes from opposition parties. Sebastian Schäfer, Green Party expert on budgets and defence, expressed his concern, stating that the Ministry’s acquisition policy lacks strategic oversight. “Despite the persistent lack of operational readiness for the ‘Puma,’ further fighting vehicles are now to be pre-financed and purchased for the benefit of industry” he stated, suggesting the government’s capacity to incur unlimited debt for military spending is facilitating “industrial dreams” at the expense of a genuinely combat-ready force. The move raises serious questions about whether procurement decisions are being driven by genuine security needs or vested industrial interests and whether the Bundeswehr is realistically prepared for the escalating geopolitical challenges it faces.
