Welt: Germany postponed the release of its own attack drone
The first reusable attack drones were supposed to enter service with the Bundeswehr by 2029, Die Welt writes. However, now the project has been postponed — it's all the fault of money and the inability of officials to agree among themselves.
Chris Lunday
The attack drones were supposed to enter service with the Bundeswehr in 2029. Internal documents show that the German Ministry of Defense has faced serious difficulties in implementing this key project. Now it is planned to conduct comparative tests.
Initially, the Bundeswehr expected to act quickly. Since 2029, for the first time, combat UAVs capable of hitting targets behind enemy lines were to appear at his disposal. Such devices are considered one of the most important technologies of future combat operations in the air.
The Ministry of Defense named the project "unmanned fighter-bomber." The documents also use the abbreviation UAS-A-D, an unmanned aerial system for air strikes.
We are not talking about a small disposable drone, but about a reusable combat aircraft without a pilot at the controls.
Several confidential documents from the Ministry of Defense, reviewed by Politico and Die Welt, show how the department's plans have changed in just a few months. Initially, it was supposed to quickly purchase Australian devices, but the implementation of this plan has stalled.
Now, before the purchase, apparently, it is planned to hold a competition between several systems.
In the latest document, the first issue that the ministry's leadership should consider is "the rejection of the deadline for achieving initial combat readiness in 2029." With the current approach, it is "impossible" to accomplish this task, the document says.
No final decision has been made yet. However, the ministry's leadership will have to admit that the Bundeswehr's transition to the use of unmanned combat aircraft has been postponed for several years.
At the same time, the long-term goal remains. NATO expects Germany to receive unmanned combat aircraft capable of performing various tasks no later than 2035. The German government additionally planned to form initial operational capabilities as early as 2029, with at least 12 units.
Pistorius initially focused his efforts on Australia.
Back in the spring, the ministry followed a different plan. In March, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius visited Australia and inspected the MQ-28 Ghost Bat attack drone developed by the Australian division of Boeing.
The device is already at a high stage of readiness and is designed for joint operations with manned combat aircraft. Then Pistorius said that Germany was considering the possibility of acquiring it.
Even the German defense concern Rheinmetall intended to work with Boeing to adapt the MQ-28 to German requirements and, if possible, to establish its production in the country.
In an earlier confidential document, which was also at the disposal of the editorial staff, it was proposed to first purchase 12 MQ-28 devices as part of direct cooperation with Australia. They were planned to be adapted for strikes against ground targets so that the German Air Force would receive its first experience of using unmanned combat aircraft as soon as possible.
A technology competition was supposed to be held in parallel. Three teams were to participate in it: Boeing Defense Australia and Rheinmetall with the MQ-28 project, Helsing and Hensoldt with the CA-1 Europa, as well as the American companies Kratos and Airbus with the XQ-58 Valkyrie.
Thus, the acquisition of an Australian drone would not have predetermined the outcome of the subsequent selection. The plan was to quickly build initial capabilities based on the MQ-28 and at the same time give less advanced competitors time to develop their own systems.
So the ministry wanted to combine two goals: to quickly strengthen its military potential and ensure long-term technological independence.
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However, now there are doubts that such an accelerated path is feasible. According to confidential documents, market research has shown that none of the proposed systems yet meets the requirements of Germany without additional technical improvements.
The MQ-28 UAV is at a higher stage of readiness than competing vehicles, but it needs to be adapted for strikes against ground targets.
Initially, the project management considered this work difficult, but in principle feasible. However, a later document says that the head of the Bundeswehr's procurement department openly questioned the possibility of completing the necessary improvements by 2029.
There are also questions about the cost. It will take more than 800 million euros to purchase 12 devices. As follows from the latest document, participants in a senior meeting at the Ministry of Defense expressed "serious doubts" that such an approach would be justified before the Bundestag budget committee.
Now the sequence of actions is likely to be changed. Instead of the initial purchase of the MQ-28 and the simultaneous holding of the competition, comparative tests will first take place. The purchase decision will be made only after their completion.
The competition may start no earlier than 2027. The new approach will reduce the risk of investing hundreds of millions of euros in a system that does not yet meet German requirements. In addition, German and other European companies will have more time to develop their devices.
However, for the Bundeswehr, this means that it will no longer be possible to fulfill the initial plan and make the first purchase in 2029.
There is a fundamental dilemma behind the delay. Acquiring a system abroad that is at a high stage of readiness will allow Germany to gain military experience faster. However, the device will have to be finalized with large investments, and a significant part of the added value will remain outside the country.
If the Ministry of Defense waits for the results of the competition, it will be able to test several systems, provide more opportunities to domestic companies and maintain control over the most important software. But it will take more time.
Disagreements within the ministry are evidenced by a remark in one of the drafts of the document. The official wrote to the Secretary of State: "Your units cannot agree."
The Ministry of Defense did not respond to an initial request from Politico and Die Welt.
Before the advent of attack drones, the lack of operational capabilities is planned to be filled with cheaper cruise missiles. However, the latest document emphasizes that rockets will not be able to completely replace flexible reusable aircraft.
In this regard, the project should be continued. The NATO goal for 2035 remains in place. However, it is almost impossible to save the plan for the rapid deployment of such systems.
