Germany wants to invest billions of euros in the successor to the Eurofighter. After the Federal Audit Office, there is now criticism of the project from the opposition in the Bundestag.
A deficiency report by the Federal Court of Auditors has intensified criticism of the German government’s approach to the multi-billion dollar project for a European air combat system (FCAS).
Opposition politicians reiterated the importance of cooperation in Europe on Sunday, but expressed doubts that the project could be approved without a negotiated contract. In the coming week, the budget and defense committees are to give the green light for the next phase of the project, which will cost Germany more than four billion euros.
“FCAS is one of the most important European armaments projects of the 21st century – it could even become an arms unification project in Europe. It is therefore of great importance to us, ”said the FDP defense politician Marcus Faber of the German press agency. “But to knit this billion-dollar armaments project with a hot needle, even without an existing contract, does not do justice to the matter and entails serious risks.”
The Green defense politician Tobias Lindner said that it basically makes sense to build a fighter plane together in Europe. “However, this cannot and must not be a license for poor contractual conditions.” Looking at a transport plane and a helicopter, he warned: “Future European armaments projects must not repeat the mistakes of the past – as with the A400M or NH90.”
Concerns should be taken seriously. «The question of usage rights was solved in a very complex way between the program nations Germany, France and Spain – perhaps too complex. It must be ensured that the development results financed from tax money can also be used extensively by the individual nations. ” It is “extremely strange” that the budget committee should now release funds, but it does not have any final negotiated contracts. “This is a unique and unacceptable process for armaments projects,” says Lindner. The federal government is shifting responsibility to the Bundestag.
The air combat system should be operational by 2040 and replace the Eurofighter. It is intended to fly in conjunction with unarmed and armed drones and is therefore more than a combat aircraft. The total costs were estimated at a three-digit billion amount. The industries of Germany, France and now also Spain are involved in the project – the full name is Next Generation Weapon System in a Future Combat Air System (NGWS / FCAS).
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