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https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/airb ... med-forces
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https://www.aviation24.be/manufacturers ... 0-options/
Interesting background article/feature:
https://augengeradeaus.net/2023/12/bund ... schrauber/
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https://augengeradeaus-net.translate.go ... r_pto=wapp
Bundestag Budget Committee approves entry into “light combat helicopters” (addendum)
Published on12/13/2023
The Bundestag's Budget Committee has approved
the start of the procurement of the Airbus H145M helicopter as a light attack helicopter.
According to information from committee circles, the MPs approved the proposal,
which is intended to initially procure 62 of these helicopters for 2.1 billion euros.
The project was also criticized by the Federal Audit Office.
The background to this is the Ministry of Defense's intention, made in May ,
to phase out the use of the Tiger attack helicopter in the next 15 years
and not to take part in any further development.
Further development to TIGER Mark III will not significantly reduce the complexity of the system.
The ministry had already said in March in response to a small question from the Union parliamentary group
that the causes of the deficits in material
operational readiness cannot be eliminated .
The requirements for maintaining this capability should be met this year.
The proposal that has now been approved for the procurement of additional H145M helicopters,
which are already used as light support helicopters for the Bundeswehr's special forces,
and additional armament is intended to provide an entry point.
However, only 24 combat equipment sets are currently planned for the 62 helicopters - and a further 20 as an option .
The Court of Auditors had criticized the fact that this was procuring a helicopter that could fly but not fight.
How the capabilities of a combat helicopter are to be maintained in the long term
in view of the phase-out of the Tiger
and how the operational options promised to NATO are to be secured
oes not yet seem to be entirely clear -
the Bundeswehr is obviously also relying on the use of unmanned systems, as it made clear in the answer in March: