German arms falter on Ukraine's front lines, complex and costly
German weapons are reportedly failing on the battlefield due to being too expensive, overly complicated, and prone to frequent breakdowns, as reported on Friday by "Sueddeutsche Zeitung" alongside television stations NDR and WDR, citing the experiences of Ukrainian soldiers.
The coverage references a presentation by the deputy military attaché of the German embassy in Kyiv. At the end of January, the diplomat shared the feedback from Ukrainian military personnel on the German equipment they use to combat Russia, during a presentation at the non-commissioned officer school in Delitzsch, Saxony.
The feedback proved to be largely negative. Ukrainian forces describe German weaponry as too complicated, prone to malfunctions, excessively pricey, and difficult to repair in field conditions.
As noted by "Sueddeutsche Zeitung," the assessment was unfavorable.
The ammunition is too expensive, the technology is prone to malfunctions, and it's nearly impossible to repair in field conditions, according to the report.
However, the editorial notes that not all German-made weapons received negative assessments from the Ukrainians. One exception is the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, designed in the 1970s and phased out of service by the Bundeswehr in 2010.
This system is regarded as the "most effective and reliable" weapon. The Gepard "not only reliably shoots down Russian drones but also performs admirably on the frontline and is considered solid and unlikely to fail," the report states. The Marder armoured personnel carrier also garnered positive reviews.
Ukrainians: This weapon fails the test
However, modern equipment—such as the American Patriot missile and anti-aircraft system, as well as the German-made PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer, Iris-T air defence system, and Leopard 2A6 tank—are often deemed to fall short in combat conditions by Ukrainian soldiers.
"Complicated equipment is not being utilized. The value of very modern and complex equipment is minimal if the military cannot provide repair capabilities on-site," according to the report from the German attaché.
