Initially, the framework agreement is only intended to demonstrate that Thales can also build radios at the technical level of the 1980s - and then also supply

Initially, the framework agreement is only intended to demonstrate that Thales can also build radios at the technical level of the 1980s - and then also supply them well into the next decade: The framework agreement runs until Dec. 31, 2032, and includes extension options until Dec. 31, 2035. (...) On the one hand, the term is necessary to successively ensure the necessary equipment supply, starting from an equipment quantity of up to 30,000 units. On the other hand, the planned service life of the devices is at least 10 years. A change of manufacturer would lead to technical difficulties in maintaining the existing interfaces, technical dependencies, external dimensions and functionalities of the existing SEM 80/SEM 90 radios and is therefore not possible. A decision on procurement is to be made only afterwards, which is why the value is initially also only stated as 0.01 euros in the announcement. After that, however, it could really go into the money: Should the Bundeswehr actually order all of the maximum 30,000 new old radios required, the volume involved would be around 600 million euros. However, such a procurement would then have to be submitted to the Bundestag's budget committee for approval, the scope of which would depend not least on the progress of the digitization of troop radio. The parliamentarians must then decide whether they want to accept what the ministry calls the best of the bad solutions. And whether the Bundeswehr should still be able to afford technical equipment at the 1980 level in 2035. Addendum: In the comments, the correct hint that there was already an article on this in the specialist publication Soldat&Technik on September 4, which, however, is also behind paywall and which I do not know. But a reference from their sister publication Europäische Sicherheit&Technik, September 2021 issue, also fits in with this: The example of leadership capability clearly shows the extent of what has been missed. While at that time with the continuous introduction of AUTOKO90, BIGSTAF and SEM93 an effective command and control system was implemented with the technical means of that time, today the command and control means are either still the same, not (any longer) continuously available or in the meantime completely obsolete. Regrettably, the Army is thus unable to achieve the interoperability and crypto-standards of allied forces with SDR (Software Defined Radio) radio on the basis of, for example, the SEM 70/80/90 analog radio series. (Archive photo July 2020: Soldiers during an exercise with the SEM70 radio, the portable version of the SEM80/90 - Christoph Loose/Bundeswehr)