Soldiers of the 33rd Panzergrenadier bataillon stand ready for inspection in front of a Puma infantry fighting vehicle after taking part in a drill at the headquarters of the 33rd Panzergrenadier bataillon in Neustadt am Ruebenberge on June 29, 2016. Photo by AFP
L.A. Times: Broken fighter jets, grounded helicopters and idled tanks: Germany's military is ailing
There are so few German army helicopters available for the troops that pilots have been forced to train in bright yellow civilian choppers leased from the German Automobile Club.
A chronic shortage of spare parts and assorted technical woes has grounded 29 of the Bundeswehr's 130 camouflage-green colored helicopters. Acute shortages of parts have also left only 39 of the Luftwaffe's 128 Eurofighter jets combat-ready — idled along with nearly half of the armed forces' 224 Leopard tanks and five of its six submarines.
No country in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance has savored the "peace dividend" as much as Germany, which slashed military spending in half after the Cold War. And no country in NATO has drawn more criticism from President Trump for not carrying its own military weight than Germany.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: Germany has the 9th largest defense budget in the world .... so something is definitely wrong when much of their military is simply inoperable.
More News On Problems In The German Military
German defense budget angers critics — including the defense minister -- Defense News
German Military Struggles on Eve of Taking Reins of NATO Crisis Response Force -- Sputnik
As Germany prepares for NATO crisis-response role, its military readiness is ‘abysmal’ -- Stars and Stripes
NATO's 'Two Percent Is Not Fetish': Merkel Hints at Larger Defense Budget -- Sputnik
Merkel defends German military spending goals -- Xinhuanet
Donald Trump rails against German defense spending shortfall -- DW
'Longstanding Shortfall': Trump Slams Germany for Being Slow on Defense -- Sputnik
Trump’s Ambassador Says U.S. Wants ‘Credible’ German Plan for Defense -- Bloomberg
