German arms struggle: Reliability issues on Ukrainian front
German weapons are failing on the battlefield - they are too expensive, too complicated, and break down too often, as reported on Friday by "Sueddeutsche Zeitung" and the television stations NDR and WDR, citing the experiences of Ukrainian soldiers.
The editors refer to a presentation by the deputy military attaché of the German embassy in Kyiv. At the end of January, the diplomat shared opinions from Ukrainian military personnel about the German equipment they used in the fight against Russia with soldiers at the non-commissioned officer school in Delitzsch, Saxony.
The assessment turned out to be rather negative. The Ukrainian army assesses German weaponry as too complicated, prone to malfunctions, too expensive, and difficult to repair in field conditions.
"Sueddeutsche Zeitung" reported that the evaluation was unfavourable.
Too expensive ammunition, technology prone to malfunctions, and almost impossible to repair in field conditions, the report reads.
The editorial notes that not all types of weapons received a negative assessment according to the Ukrainians. Exceptions include the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun, designed in the 1970s and withdrawn from the Bundeswehr in 2010.
It is considered the "most effective and reliable" weapon system. The Gepard "not only reliably shoots down Russian drones from the sky but also performs on the frontline and is considered solid and unlikely to fail," it reads. The Marder armoured personnel carrier also received good reviews.
Ukrainians: This weapon fails the test
However, modern equipment - including the American missile and anti-aircraft Patriot system and those produced in Germany: the PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzer, Iris-T air defence system, and Leopard 2A6 tank - according to Ukrainian soldiers, often fail the test in combat conditions.
"Complicated equipment is not being utilised. The utility value of very modern and complicated equipment is minimal if the military cannot ensure repair capabilities on site," reads the report from the German attaché.
