Controversy rises in Germany regarding digital radios bought for its army, as compatibility issues for their installation would reportedly exist. The defense minister rejected such claims but admitted delays.
The Bundeswehr, Germany’s military, is facing uncertainty about installing newly-bought digital radios due to alleged issues with compatibility and power supply. But the German defense minister Boris Pistorius is defending the 1.3 billion euros (1.4 billion dollars) procurement.
In the spirit of Zeintenwende, the modernization of Bundeswehr, and following the Digitalization of Land-Based Operations initiative, the military decided to buy digital radios from a German manufacturer, Rohde & Schwarz, in December 2022 for 1.3 billion euros.
This step was aligned with their commitment toward NATO that by 2025, they would become a fully operational army division, which includes having and ensuring effective digital communication.
However, around 34,000 vehicles, from tanks to off-road vehicles, are suspected not to be equipped in a timely manner.
According to the alleged internal letter obtained by the German newspaper Welt, the Bundeswehr didn’t plan the installation of D‑LBO devices in the vehicles when choosing the radios. There are numerous vehicle models with different adapter plates, and the military now needs to figure out which of them are compatible with radios and how to install them.
Another suspected challenge is the power supply, more specifically, insufficient battery capacities and undersized alternators.
It is presumed the military is unsure if all vehicles have sufficient power to run the radios effectively. In that case, the ministry wants to make technical adjustments in alternators and cooling systems to enable the operationality of new radios, which may be achieved only in several years.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius addressed the dilemma in a press conference during his visit to Latvia. Although he confirms a delay, he strongly disagrees that the wrong radios were procured.
His Social Democratic Party colleague and army budget’s parliamentary supervisor Andreas Schwarz disagrees and suggests not ordering more of these devices due to uncertainty about installation. Additionally, he fears that even if the devices are installed, they may not have the technical capabilities for communication with NATO partners.
Green Party Member Sebastian Schäfer, who warned against the procurement in December, also voiced his opinion, claiming that the error is “not surprising” and “embarrassing.”
And as the Bundeswehr navigates through current challenges and deadlines, the commitment to modernization remains a work in progress, with the goal of achieving effective digital communication as soon as possible.
