Germany, France to jointly develop 'Leopard 3' tank

[unhappycamper]

http://www.dw.de/germany-france-to-jointly-develop-leopard-3-tank/a-18468270

Germany and France are considering cooperation on developing a successor to the tank "Leopard 2." The current model has been in service since 1979, and aging Bundeswehr equipment is currently in stark focus.

Germany, France to jointly develop 'Leopard 3' tank
22.05.2015

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Equipment shortfalls in sharp focus

The plans come at a difficult time for the German military, especially where hardware is concerned. New parliamentary ombudsman to the Bundeswehr, Hans-Peter Bartels, called on parliament in his inauguration on Thursday not to scrimp on military spending, saying German troops needed "100 percent" of the required gear, not "70 percent."

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Even the Bundeswehr's standard-issue assault rifle, the G36, has come under fire for losing accuracy as the weapon heats up. Meanwhile, Airbus' new military transport plane, the A400M, suffered a crash this month and is being thoroughly scrutinized. Its Transall predecessor is therefore expected to stay in the skies longer than planned.

Other problems have hit Bundeswehr helicopters operating in anti-piracy missions off the Horn of Africa, and more generally, Germany is under pressure from NATO to meet the bloc's defense spending targets. However, very few alliance members spend the recommended 2 percent of total economic output on their armed forces.

The government in Berlin is also seeking to reinvent Germany's international approach to military affairs, gradually moving away from the overwhelmingly pacifist stance adopted in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. Critics at home argue however, the government should concentrate on solving the Bundeswehr's equipment problems, before adopting a more active international military footing.