Germany’s Defence Ministry has acknowledged delays to the combat readiness of the Bundeswehr’s Airbus H145M light combat helicopters. The aircraft are being delivered initially in a provisional configuration intended for training, not combat. A Federal Court of Auditors report to the Bundestag identifies planning shortcomings and a safety issue with ammunition for the 20 mm cannon; it warns that full readiness may be several years later than originally planned.
The available ammunition cannot currently be certified as safe because of electrostatic sensitivity in its primer. The manufacturer’s timetable for resolving the problem is unclear. The auditors also identify schedule risks for the planned anti-tank guided missiles, whose deliveries are due to begin in late 2027. The Defence Ministry considers that timetable very ambitious, according to media reports.
The 2023 procurement is valued at about €2.5 billion. Airbus is contracted to deliver the military H145M variants by the end of 2028. The delays could affect Germany’s commitments to provide NATO with 12 operational helicopters by 2029 and 72 by 2032. The auditors recommend deferring a further order of 33 aircraft until the contractor’s ability to meet the contract requirements is assured. The ministry has acknowledged known problems and said it is in close contact with the auditors, but has not provided a date for full combat readiness.