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"Along with the reliability woes of air force jetliners, only about a third of Germany’s 128 Eurofighter jets are combat ready and just a quarter of its 130 arm

"Along with the reliability woes of air force jetliners, only about a third of Germany’s 128 Eurofighter jets are combat ready and just a quarter of its 130 army helicopters are operational, mainly because of shortages of spare parts. Only one of six submarines and fewer than half of 244 Leopard tanks are working, according to a recent report to Parliament." https://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-germany-armed-forces-20190213-story.html https://www.latimes.com/world/la-fg-germany-armed-forces-201...

pinkfoot 7y ago
And you don't think they would change that pretty quickly if they really needed to?
- hopia 7y ago
  Considering Russia annexed Crimea in a matter of days, I don't think that gives Germany enough time to fix their equipment operational.
  - pinkfoot 7y ago
    Their risk analysis therefore probably concludes that the present LIKELIHOOD of an invasion AND a successful occupation is too low to worry about. That's the difference between the paranoid and the rational.
    - hopia 7y ago
      Then, what's the point of having any military equipment at all to worry about? Mind you, failing at this gamble would have devastating effects, as was evidenced by many occupied nations during the last major conflict in Europe.
      - pinkfoot 7y ago
        My guess is its to keep enough professional officers and enlisted staff to be able to mobilise and upgrade their capabilities quickly (with or without allies) in the even the risk evaluation changes. Note that Costa Rica has no defence force at all. > failing at this gamble Yes, all adult decisions are based on uncertainty. Especially when resources are limited.
- pnw_hazor 7y ago
  They won't have time to train up the manpower. Even if the US gives them more equipment. For example, it takes the US Army almost 2 years to train helicopter pilots. Similar for Air Force or Navy pilots.
  - bakuninsbart 7y ago
    German troops have very good discipline, and a far more reliable education than american troops. While certainly far from ideal, the state of the Bundeswehr is often painted worse than it is. You completely gloss over the fact that german (special) forces are in a lot of countries. Furthermore, Germany isn't militarily threatened by any country with capabilities to invade it. France and Britain are close allies, the US kinda still is, Russia's economy is extremely reliant on Germany and the other countries around it are to small to pose a serious threat.

pinkfoot 7y ago

And you don't think they would change that pretty quickly if they really needed to?

hopia 7y ago
Considering Russia annexed Crimea in a matter of days, I don't think that gives Germany enough time to fix their equipment operational.
- pinkfoot 7y ago
  Their risk analysis therefore probably concludes that the present LIKELIHOOD of an invasion AND a successful occupation is too low to worry about. That's the difference between the paranoid and the rational.
  - hopia 7y ago
    Then, what's the point of having any military equipment at all to worry about? Mind you, failing at this gamble would have devastating effects, as was evidenced by many occupied nations during the last major conflict in Europe.
    - pinkfoot 7y ago
      My guess is its to keep enough professional officers and enlisted staff to be able to mobilise and upgrade their capabilities quickly (with or without allies) in the even the risk evaluation changes. Note that Costa Rica has no defence force at all. > failing at this gamble Yes, all adult decisions are based on uncertainty. Especially when resources are limited.
pnw_hazor 7y ago
They won't have time to train up the manpower. Even if the US gives them more equipment. For example, it takes the US Army almost 2 years to train helicopter pilots. Similar for Air Force or Navy pilots.
- bakuninsbart 7y ago
  German troops have very good discipline, and a far more reliable education than american troops. While certainly far from ideal, the state of the Bundeswehr is often painted worse than it is. You completely gloss over the fact that german (special) forces are in a lot of countries. Furthermore, Germany isn't militarily threatened by any country with capabilities to invade it. France and Britain are close allies, the US kinda still is, Russia's economy is extremely reliant on Germany and the other countries around it are to small to pose a serious threat.