Military: Green light for Bundeswehr transport helicopters

The specialist committees in the Bundestag have approved a multi-billion dollar purchase of 60 heavy transport helicopters to modernize the Bundeswehr. The budget and defense committees voted by majority to purchase 60 Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters, participants at the meetings said.

A cost increase (“unplanned commitment authorization”) for the procurement of three fleet service boats, special ships for military reconnaissance above and below the sea, was also approved. The purchase of airborne all-terrain vehicles and extensive ammunition orders also met with approval.

The Chinook helicopters are to become the “workhorse” for the rapid air transport of vehicles, material and soldiers in the Bundeswehr. They are important for national and alliance defense, but also for missions abroad. The CH in the model designation stands for “cargo helicopter”. The first helicopters are scheduled for delivery in 2027.

Stationing of the helicopters clarified

From security circles it was said that 47 of the helicopters should be stationed at the Holzdorf air base on the state border between Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt, which would thus become a “helicopter Mecca”. 12 machines are to come to the Laupheim military airfield in Baden-Württemberg, one to the military technical service center “WTD 61” in Manching near Ingolstadt.

The Air Force Inspector, Ingo Gerhartz, spoke of a good and correct decision. “A mature helicopter that is in use with many partners,” he said. Manufacturer Boeing said it was pleased with the decision. “Together with our Chinook Germany team, we have committed ourselves to optimally supporting the Bundeswehr’s requirements for a new heavy transport helicopter (STH),” the company said in a statement.

The helicopter will significantly strengthen Germany’s interoperability with the USA, NATO and allied nations. Many NATO partners use the helicopter – the Netherlands, Spain, Great Britain, Italy, Greece, the USA, Canada and Turkey. The CH-47 is easily identified by a distinctive banana shape and two main rotors.

Project more expensive than expected

The evening before there had been new doubts about the project due to increased costs. Around five billion euros from the 100 billion package for the Bundeswehr were estimated for the purchase last year. According to the draft decision, the total financial requirement for the project now amounts to around 7.2 billion euros. There are also almost 750 million euros to adapt the infrastructure for operating the helicopters. Mentioned are the construction of new buildings and hangars, the adaptation of flight operations areas and the expansion of existing tank farms.

“From a defense policy point of view and also for the German NATO contribution, this procurement has the highest priority,” said the Greens’ budget keeper Sebastian Schäfer. However, it is “not an off-the-shelf product” and the helicopter in this form has not yet been certified by the US armed forces. Schäfer: “In this respect, there are considerable risks for the taxpayer.” The Bundeswehr must ensure that the necessary construction work is completed in good time.

FDP budget politician Karsten Klein said the pressure to act on the project was “obvious”. Nevertheless, challenges and risks must not be lost sight of. Klein said: “With the resolutions, the traffic light underlines once again that we are serious about the turning point.”

The SPD budget politician Andreas Schwarz paid tribute to the overall package that was passed and said: “We are investing around 13 billion euros in the procurement of the heavy transport helicopter, in over 1,000 airborne vehicles, in ammunition for the self-propelled howitzer 2000, the Puma infantry fighting vehicle, the Leopard 2 battle tank, the rifles of our troops and in the development of the fleet service boat.”