Lessons from the frontline: German high-tech weapons proved ineffective in modern warfare
German weapons provided to Ukraine do not always meet expectations in a full-scale war. This is evidenced by an internal report of the Bundeswehr, the contents of which were made available to journalists from WDR, NDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung.
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The report states that the complexity of operation and technical vulnerability of German equipment are forcing the Ukrainian military to rethink approaches to its use.
Speaking at a military seminar in Saxony, the Deputy Military Attaché of Germany in Kyiv said that many types of weapons provided by Germany are "almost not suitable for warfare". Of the eight systems analysed, most have critical limitations.
In particular, the PzH 2000 self-propelled artillery system proved to be too sensitive to intensive use - its barrel wears out quickly and its software often crashes. The Leopard 1A5 tanks, although reliable, have weak armour, so they are used mainly in rear positions. The Leopard 2A6 is too difficult to maintain - it is almost impossible to carry out repairs in the field.
Gepard and Marder BMPs received the best marks, as they demonstrated stable performance without any serious technical issues. Among the high-tech systems, IRIS-T has proven to be effective in air defence, but Ukraine faces a shortage of missiles. The Patirot system has shown good results, but the towing equipment requires frequent maintenance and faces a shortage of spare parts.
The Gepard system. Illustration: Wikipedia
The Ukrainian military is trying to adapt its equipment to the conditions of war. For example, the Leopard 1 is being equipped with dynamic protection and anti-drone structures.
German politicians are calling for this experience to be taken into account. MP Sarah Nunni of the Green Party stressed the importance of working closely with Ukraine to learn all the details of operation and incorporate these findings into future defence procurement.
Source: Tagesschau
