Investigation Launched into Overpriced Armored Vehicle Delivery to Ukraine
Germany’s ‘exorbitantly priced’ armored vehicles supplied to Ukraine under investigation
An investigation has been opened into the “exorbitantly priced” armored vehicles supplied by Germany to Ukraine. The German government announced at the end of May that it would be delivering 66 armored personnel carriers (APCs) produced by German company FFG to Ukraine. However, concerns have been raised about the high cost of these vehicles, originally named BATT UMG, which were developed in the USA and weigh 10 tons.
Deliveries of the armored personnel carriers began in October, with the Ukrainian Armed Forces receiving a total of 48 vehicles. However, it has been revealed that the supplied vehicles are unsuitable for use on the front lines in Ukraine and in war conditions in general. This is due to the fact that the vehicles have thin armor plating and are not resistant to cannon, rocket, and mortar fire, mines, or fragmented munitions. They only provide protection against infantry rifles and are suitable for operations behind the battle lines.
According to an investigation by BILD, Germany’s FFG ordered all 66 vehicles from US contractor The Armored Group (TAG), with the vehicles being assembled at the TAG factory in the UAE before being delivered to Ukraine, stopping only in Germany. It was also revealed that the prices for the state contract were inflated threefold, with the German Ministry of Defense paying 600,000 euros for each vehicle, despite their actual cost on the world market being around 200,000 euros.
The German Ministry of Defense initially chose FFG’s light vehicles over Rheinmetall’s heavy Fuchs vehicles, citing them as the most economical solution that was also quickly available. However, it has come to light that the Ukrainian side was not offered advanced mine protection and that no armored personnel carriers were assembled in Germany.
As a result of these findings, an investigation has been opened into the high price of the BATT UMG vehicles supplied to Ukraine. The German government has yet to make a statement regarding the investigation and the concerns raised about the armored vehicles.
Source: DefenseSanayiST.com, pravada-en
