The deployment of a digital communication system is “dangerous to life and health”, according to an internal report of the Bundeswehr from the end of 2025, obtained by Die Welt. The Ministry of Defense led by Boris Pistorius (SPD) is trying to downplay the situation, but the situation has not changed, writes the website of the weekly Focus.
The goal of the Digitization of Ground Operations (D-LBO) project is to connect soldiers, vehicles and command posts. From 2022, the army regularly asked the government for additional money from the budget, but the errors in the project were not eliminated. As a result, it is one big disaster, writes Die Welt.
Basic voice transmission fails, for example between Leopard 2 A7V tanks. The soldiers were not sure whether their messages had been sent, and thus it was not possible to reliably issue even key orders, including a cease fire. The system does not even meet the basic requirements for safe operation.
According to the original plans, the largest and most expensive project of the Bundeswehr was supposed to start operating in 2027. In the current situation, this date is completely unrealistic, writes the German media. At the same time, the Bundeswehr desperately needs digitization. To this day, mostly outdated, unencrypted radio technology is used, which is easily intercepted by enemies.
