Danger due to technical defect: army must ground its armored personnel carriers!

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Swiss officers sound the alarm. The Army must ground its M113 infantry fighting vehicles. Everything stands still! This has probably never happened before. Due to a technical defect in the drive shaft area, the army logistics base immediately banned the fleet from operating as a precaution. The defect can cause problems with steering and braking. A danger to troops and third parties.

On Friday, the driving ban had only been communicated internally within the army. Only the commanders involved were informed. However, at Blick’s request, the army confirmed the grounding.

“That’s dramatic”

“The Army Logistics Base is currently planning necessary repairs and has begun the procurement of spare parts,” it said. However, the market is currently tense, mainly due to the war in Ukraine. So delays are to be expected. The army wants to officially inform the public on Monday.

Within the army, the situation is described as “terrifying”. The situation is precarious, an entire fleet is at a standstill. “This has never happened before on this scale in ground forces,” said Erich Muff, president of the Officers’ Society (OG) Panzer. The army has 308 M113 infantry fighting vehicles, which have now been decommissioned. Muff: “That’s dramatic.”

This has enormous consequences, the officers’ associations of the artillery and armored troops warn in a joint statement: “The M113 is crucial for the deployment of the ground forces of the Swiss army.” Panzer sappers, artillery and tank battalions could no longer fulfill their mission.

“That’s Just the Beginning”

“It is difficult to estimate today how long this grounding will last,” says Muff. Because: Important spare parts are not available and must now be purchased “in extremis”. This can take time – and be very expensive.

For the officer companies it is clear: the grounding of the fleet of infantry fighting vehicles exposes enormous gaps in the ground forces. “The military has been ruined for decades. Now the consequences are becoming increasingly clear,” says Muff. ‘And that’s just the beginning. Many systems have been overused for years.”

Under no circumstances should it continue like this. The money has now disappeared everywhere. Politicians must finally recognize the seriousness of the situation. The officers therefore call on parliament to implement the desired budget increase in 2030 as originally planned.

Parliament is fighting for a higher army budget

The National Council and the Council of States are currently struggling to finance the military. So far, the Council of States is sticking to its ambitious plan: the military budget must be increased to 1 percent of GDP by 2030, from the current 5.5 to 9.5 billion francs per year. The National Council, on the other hand, wants to extend this deadline until 2035, as does the Federal Council. The final decision will be made this week.

“What still needs to happen before politicians finally realize the seriousness of the situation?” The officer companies are pushing for more resources. Parliament is responsible for equipping the troops with operational and safe equipment.

“The current situation also affects the motivation of the troops,” Muff warns. This is especially precarious in a militia army. The army is already suffering from the many departures. “If we don’t give our soldiers the right equipment, they will run away,” Muff said. “If this continues, the whole store will collapse.”

Source:Blick