Three VIP Cougar helicopters are to be replaced
The three Airbus Cougar AS 532 U VIP helicopters on duty are to be replaced by new helicopters from 2027. For this purpose, a commitment authorization of 200 million euros is to be issued in Section 60 after 2027. This emerges from an addition to the adjustment template, which is to be discussed in the adjustment meeting for the 2024 budget on January 18th. MdB Ingo Gädechens, rapporteur of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group for the defense budget, pointed this out.
The Cougar has been used by the aviation service to transport members of the government and people from the parliamentary area since 1998. A two-year inspection was carried out in 2019. By 2027, the helicopters will have accumulated almost thirty years of service.
Gädechens doubts the need to procure a replacement, since the federal police also have VIP helicopters Super Puma, the civilian version of the Cougar. The Bundeswehr also has numerous other transport helicopters, which, however, do not have VIP equipment and can therefore only offer limited travel comfort.
“The Bundeswehr’s Cougar helicopters are getting old and need to be replaced. But who in the federal government seriously thinks that now is the right time for this?” explains Gädechens. “The whole of Germany is suffering from the traffic light meltdown in budget policy. Savings are to be made everywhere – especially among farmers and now also among fishermen. And it is precisely in this situation that the federal government believes it has to order new VIP helicopters for 200 million euros.”
The adjustment meeting will show whether the government coalition in the budget committee agrees with Gädechen's criticism.
Editorial staff / gwh