The German Bundestag has approved three armaments projects. In their first meeting after the summer break, the Bundestag's defense and budget committees discussed three so-called 25 million euro proposals. Since no significant objections have arisen, the Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) can conclude the corresponding service and procurement contracts.
RBS 15 Mk3 anti-ship missile
The procurement of the RBS15 Mk3 anti-ship missiles to equip the K130 corvettes has already been contractually regulated. The anti-ship missiles are procured under a framework contract that provides for a number of 160 guided missiles. An initial call for 75 of the long-range guided missiles and accessories with a financial volume of 285 million euros has been firmly ordered. In addition, there are necessary information technology components and testing material worth another six million euros. The contract value is 285 million euros. Delivery to the Navy is scheduled to take place between 2022 and 2026, parallel to the planned delivery of the second batch of the K130. The contractor is Diehl.
The Mark 3 version of the heavy anti-ship missile, developed together with the Saab company, was first delivered in 2011 as the main armament for corvettes of the new K 130 class. Production takes place in cooperation with Saab. The Saab share in the current order is 160 million euros. The subcontract has already been awarded.
As a new generation, long-range guided missile with active radar seeker and a combination of inertial and GPS-based navigation, the Mk3 offers naval forces a significant expansion of their existing capabilities. With RBS15 Mk3, not only can ships be successfully fought at long distances, but now also targets on land.
In addition to Germany and Sweden, numerous other European and international countries use the RBS15 weapon system.
Expansion of digitalization
The in-house IT company BWI GmbH and its predecessor companies have been supporting the expansion of digitalization in the Bundeswehr through long-term contracts since 2006. In particular, changed (additional) tasks require frequent adjustments to the service contracts. After the increase in equity capital from the federal government's economic stimulus program a few weeks ago, the change to the service contract will push forward the expansion of digitalization in the armed forces and, above all, in the Bundeswehr's healthcare system. A total of 1.6 billion euros are earmarked for this purpose over a period of seven years from 2021 in addition to the previous funding. This means that BWI GmbH's planned annual turnover from orders from the Bundeswehr will increase to 1.2 billion euros.
The new package of tasks will be presented in detail in a later issue of wehrwirtschaft.
GBU-54 precision armament for the Eurofighter
The Eurofighter's ammunition mix is supplemented by the GBU-54 precision armament. The all-weather, short-range precision weapon can engage stationary and moving targets in almost all weather and visibility conditions. Guided Bomb Unit (GBU) 54 consists of a Boeing Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (LJDAM) guidance system, a standard MK-82 bomb body and an FBM21-GER bomb fuze. The guidance and control part of the GBU-54 uses the combination of GPS and inertial navigation with a passive laser seeker. The combat range of the 230 kg GBU is stated to be up to 28 km.
2,290 guidance systems and detonators as well as 910 bomb bodies as well as test material and training equipment are to be procured for the Eurofighter with a contract value of 213 million euros. In 2018, Diehl Defense concluded a teaming agreement with Boeing for cooperation on possible further procurement of GBU-54, among other things with the aim of supporting the integration of the weapon system into the Eurofighter fighter aircraft.
The Bundeswehr has been using GBU-54 with LJDAM control on the Tornado fighter aircraft since 2009.
Rating
With 2.1 billion euros, the Bundeswehr is once again financing a significant portion of the effort to improve the equipment of the armed forces. Only the GBU-54 is relevant to the spearhead of the NATO VJTF 2023. There is not much time left before the start of the same-deployment obligation, as the training with newly procured equipment must be essentially completed by the end of 2022 before the forces can be qualified. The catalog of unfinished 25 million euro submissions in the current year is still very long and does not yet contain all the procurements necessary for VJTF 2023.
| Project | Financial volume | realization |
| RBS 15 Mk3 anti-ship missile | 291 | 2022 – 2026 |
| BWI service contract | 1.600 | 2021 – 2027 |
| GBU-54 for Eurofighter | 213 |
In view of the foreseeable shortage of financial resources due to the pandemic in the coming financial year, it is now important to start as many projects as possible this year so that the renewal and addition of the troops' equipment can make rapid progress. In the new year, 25 million euro bills must be submitted as early as possible, because due to the federal elections in September 2021, parliament will hardly want to worry about procurement for the Bundeswehr after the summer break.
Gerhard Heiming
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