Bundeswehr spends billions on failing digital project

According to the newspaper Die Welt, the German armed forces have spent around two billion euros on the ‘Digitisation of Ground Operations’ project, which is currently on hold and has yet to produce the expected results.

According to a confidential letter from the defence ministry to the Bundestag, the cost amounted to €1.749 billion, with a further €299 million spent on accompanying measures.

Nevertheless, the system is not suitable for deployment or training. An internal Bundeswehr report described the tested version of the radio system as potentially dangerous to life and health.

The project to digitally link soldiers, equipment and command structures was intended to be the most comprehensive in the army’s history, but has been repeatedly delayed and plagued by technical problems.

Basic radio communication is reportedly cumbersome, enemy identification unreliable and data transmission slow. There are also problems with integrating various technologies, including systems for Puma and Boxer vehicles.

The project is also facing criticism from politicians in the governing parties, who are losing confidence in the defence ministry. The ministry has restricted the provision of detailed information, citing security reasons. The project has long been under scrutiny by Germany’s Federal Court of Auditors.

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