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Bundeswehr Digital Radio: Test Passed, but the Marder Fails

Policy2 min read

The German army (Bundeswehr) says it passed a key field test for its new digital radio system. But the Marder armored vehicle failed part of the test, so the army has had to change its plans.

The army passes a major test

The German Defence Ministry says the first operational test of the Bundeswehr's new digital radio is done. The test ran for several weeks at the Munster training area, with industry partners and army staff. Live firing was part of the final phase. The ministry says the basic radio system now works, so a NATO brigade can be ready and digitally linked from January. However, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) reports that the testing was not smooth and needed quick changes.

Key facts

  • About 16,000 vehicles of many types need new radios.
  • The project was planned to take 10 to 15 years, but it must now move faster.
  • The industry is about 300 vehicles behind its own targets, according to the FAZ.
  • The goal is 2,700 upgraded vehicles at bases by the end of 2026, and only a little over a part of that has been reached so far.

Why the radio is being replaced

The army's old radio systems are analog. Analog radio messages are easy to listen in on. The article says the war in Ukraine shows the danger of this, because intercepted messages at the front can have deadly results. Fast data sharing from drones, radar, and live maps is seen as very important on the modern battlefield.

Why it matters

The Marder is a well-known and long-serving infantry fighting vehicle. Its failure shows how hard it is to fit new radios into old vehicles. The army has had to switch to the newer Puma vehicle for the NATO brigade and use temporary mixed systems for older vehicles. This matters for Germany's role in defending NATO's eastern border.

What to watch

  • Whether the NATO brigade is fully ready and digitally linked from January.
  • How the Marder problem is solved, or whether more vehicles are switched to the Puma.
  • Whether the factories catch up on the 300 vehicles they are behind.
  • Whether the 2,700 vehicle target by the end of 2026 is met.

Glossary

Bundeswehr
The armed forces of Germany.
Marder
A German tracked armored vehicle that carries infantry soldiers into battle.
Puma
A modern German infantry fighting vehicle that the army is now using for the NATO brigade.

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