Germany will acquire 10 self-propelled quick-firing howitzers from Krauss-Maffei Wegmann in a deal worth 185 million euros. At the same time, the amount, under the terms of the deal, can be doubled, writes Bloomberg.
According to anonymous sources, the government is considering acquiring 18 more artillery systems worth about 290 million euros, raising the total investment to 475 million euros. The plan is expected to be adopted by the parliamentary budget committee at its meeting on Wednesday.
The order, part of a broad plan to renew the army, will replenish Germany’s own stocks after the government sent 10 howitzers to Ukraine.
After Putin’s attack on Ukraine last year, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the creation of a special fund worth 100 billion euros to try to make up for years of underfunding of the German armed forces.
As German media reported, after the transfer of 14 Panzerhaubitze 2000 artillery systems to Ukraine to the German Bundeswehr will have to wait for a replacement for at least three years.
German training grounds also carried out testing of new self-propelled artillery installations RCH-155which were ordered by the Armed Forces of Ukraine directly from the manufacturer through one of the aid funds.
