The Bundeswehr vehicle fleet is being renewed. In the case of unprotected transport vehicles, there will now be a big step forward. The budget committee of the German Bundestag agreed on October 7th to use funds from the economic stimulus package to purchase trucks and interchangeable bodies. The Bundeswehr has been renewing its transport vehicle fleet since 2017. So far, 1,870 vehicles have been ordered under the current framework agreement, and they should begin to arrive in the forces by the end of this year. 1,000 new trucks as mobility vehicles. For investments of over 100 million euros from the economic stimulus package, separate approval from the budget committee of the German Bundestag is required.
The Bundeswehr intends to use funds from the federal government’s corona-related economic and crisis management package to purchase 1,000 additional unprotected transport vehicles for around 398 million euros. They will not only replace the existing transport vehicles from the 1970s, but also improve the mobility of the armed forces. The existing framework agreement for the unprotected transport vehicles is to be expanded and the vehicles will be delivered within the next two years. The order comprises 150 trucks in the five-tonne class and 850 vehicles in the 15-tonne class. They serve different tasks, such as the transport of general cargo, ammunition, operating materials, cabins or containers.
In addition to the truck lorries, the funds from the economic stimulus package are also to be used to procure 1,850 swap bodies for 48 million euros. This significantly reduces the time required for loading and unloading processes and their flexibility for the troops. In two contracts, 950 swap bodies 15 feet in length and 900 20 feet in length will be procured, which are to be used in 2022. A further 401 trucks are to be procured from the existing framework agreement at a later date. The Bundeswehr estimates that it will have further requirements in the coming years at around 300 lorries with a payload of five tons and around 3,000 lorries with a payload of 15 tons. These projects are also to be dealt with in parliament this year.
