DefenceTalkGermany is considering sending troops to Tunisia to help train soldiers in the fight against the Islamic State group, a newspaper report said on Sunday. Bild am Sonntag said that representatives of the defence and foreign ministries would hold talks in Tunis on Thursday and Friday about how the German military could lend support in […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-mulling-military-training-mission-in-tunisia-report-66823/

DefenceTalkGermany’s military is overstretched and underfunded as its troops are engaged in anti-militant missions from Syria and Afghanistan to Mali while also aiding refugees at home, the defense commissioner said Tuesday. Plagued by a series of defense equipment failures, the military is “at a crossroads” and has reached “the limit of its capacity for interventions,” […]https://www.defencetalk.com/german-military-overstretched-commissioner-66578/

DefenceTalkGerman Tornado jets deployed to Syria for reconnaissance missions can’t fly at night, Bild daily reported Tuesday in a new embarrassment for the defence ministry which has been battling equipment problems. The six aircraft sent to Syria are fitted with surveillance technology, and had been touted as being capable of taking high-resolution photos and infrared […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germanys-tornado-reconnaissance-jets-cant-fly-at-night-report-66435/

DefenceTalkGermany said Tuesday that it would buy up to five military reconnaissance drones capable of carrying missiles from Israel until a similar European model has hit the market. Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said that Berlin aimed to ink the deal to buy three to five Heron TP drones this year from Israel’s Aerospace […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-to-buy-israeli-drones-which-can-be-weaponized-66349/

DefenceTalkHaifa (Israel): Israel on Tuesday took delivery of its fifth German-built submarine, an advanced Dolphin-class vessel said to be capable of remaining submerged for up to a week. Speaking at an official welcome ceremony at the northern port city of Haifa, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the undersea fleet allows Israel “to deter enemies who […]https://www.defencetalk.com/israel-gets-5th-german-submarine-66341/

DefenceTalkDespite official condemnation of Saudi Arabia’s executions, many wonder why Germany doesn’t take action against the kingdom. Critics think arms exports to the country should have been stopped a long time ago. Many countries have condemned Saudi Arabia’s execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr together with three other Shiites and 43 alleged members of al […]https://www.defencetalk.com/should-germany-stop-exporting-arms-to-saudi-arabia-66267/

DefenceTalkBERLIN: Germany’s Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel warned Saudi Arabia Monday Berlin could review military exports to the oil-rich nation in light of Riyadh’s mass executions of prisoners two days earlier. Berlin also urged Saudi Arabia and Iran to restore diplomatic relations after 47 people were executed, including a Shiite cleric, which sparked attacks on the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-warns-saudi-arabia-it-may-review-military-exports-66245/

DefenceTalkMUNICH: By order of the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), the OCCAR organization for joint armament cooperation has commissioned Artec GmbH to provide the German Bundeswehr with 131 high-protection vehicles of Boxer type. Artec, a joint venture between Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall, is due to deliver the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-orders-131-boxer-armored-vehicles-for-army-66149/

DefenceTalkLithuania said Friday it would buy 88 German-made armored fighting vehicles in its biggest-ever military purchase amid concerns over neighboring Russia. “We have come to the unequivocal opinion to choose and acquire the Boxer infantry fighting vehicles,” said Lithuania’s defence chief Jonas Vytautas Zukas. Speaking after a meeting of the State Defence Council, he said […]https://www.defencetalk.com/lithuania-to-buy-88-german-vehicles-in-record-arms-deal-66070/

DefenceTalkGermany’s Cabinet has approved a mandate offering military assistance in the fight against the self-declared “Islamic State” (IS) in Syria. The package still requires parliamentary approval. The package, covering reconnaissance flights, a naval frigate and up to 1,200 German troops joining the coalition against IS, is now awaiting support from Germany’s lower house of parliament […]https://www.defencetalk.com/german-cabinet-approves-mission-in-syria-against-is-65934/