Ukrainian soldiers train on a Leopard 1A5 main battle tank in Klitz, Germany Photo: ANNEGRET HILSE/REUTERS
Russia uses drones to spy on by Ukrainian troops training on Leopard battle tanks in Germany, officials said.
Suspected Russian drones have been spotted over military training sites for more than a year, but the German military has yet to intercept the unmanned aircraft. aircraft (UAV) or arrest its pilot.
Lawmakers in Berlin called the failure to tackle the «massive drone problem» «unacceptable.»
A defense policy official for the Free Democratic Party, part of Germany's ruling coalition, said drones were regularly spotted over the Klitz military training area, where the Bundeswehr trains Ukrainians on Leopard-1.
“At other bases, sometimes several drones enter the airspace at the same time. This is clearly organized and points to Russia,” said Markus Faber.
Berlin estimates that at least 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers have trained in Germany since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion.
Recruits receive basic infantry training in the country, while more experienced soldiers are trained on modern equipment such as US air defense systems «Patriot» and Leopard tanks.
Berlin estimates that at least 10,000 have been trained in Germany since the beginning of the war Ukrainian soldiers. Photo: CRAIG STENNETT
Gen Carsten Breuer, then commander of German internal defence, was first alerted to suspicious drone activity in October 2022.
He immediately ordered military police officers to be trained in the use of HP 47 jammers in an attempt to shoot down unidentified UAVs.
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But he was soon promoted to chief of defense, and his counter-drone program was reported virtually forgot.
That was until November last year, when a drone task force was formed under the command of Brigadier General Wolfgang Jordan.
The lack of progress in tackling the UAV scourge has increased pressure on Defense Minister Boris Pistorius to deliver results, with every party in Germany's ruling coalition reportedly increasingly eager for a breakthrough.
p>Andreas Schwarz, spokesman for Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats, said it was «unacceptable for the defense minister to realize that there is a huge problem with drones, but then nothing happens for a year.»
Sebastian Schaefer Spokesperson » Greens added: “There is no strategy for using drones. We urgently need it.»
Meanwhile, it turned out that most of the 18 Leopard 2 main battle tanks donated by Germany to Ukraine were being repaired abroad after mechanical failures.
«Unfortunately, It can be noted that only a very small number of delivered battle tanks can be used by Ukraine,” said Mr. Schaefer.
He made his statement after visiting a Lithuanian plant where the Ukrainian fleet of Leopard 2 tanks was being repaired.
Most of the vehicles are delivered to the maintenance facility with signs of wear, and not with damage received during combat operations.< /p>
But repairs have reportedly been delayed due to a lack of spare parts and expertise inside Ukraine to carry out routine repairs close to the battlefield.
Manufacturers Rheinmetall and KMW have been urged to do more to promote faster repair of tanks donated to Ukraine. .
They called on German tank manufacturers to “quickly improve the situation with spare parts,” while warning: “There is, apparently, a problem in the fact that there are repair attempts by the Ukrainian army, which will lead to further damage battle tanks.»
Representatives of the Ministry of Defense called on arms companies to consider sending trained mechanics to Ukraine to repair tanks themselves.
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