MOSCOW (Sputnik) — At the moment, the Bundeswehr has 244 tanks of this type in service, but only 95 of them are in full combat readiness, the Focus magazine has reported. Meanwhile, 53 tanks are reportedly being upgraded, seven are at test sites, and multiple others cannot be repaired due to lack of spare parts.
"The question of who is responsible for this catastrophe should be raised," Wolfgang Hellmich, chairman of the German Bundestag Committee on Defense and member of the German Social Democratic Party (SPD), said, commenting on the news.
He noted that this is a matter for "the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, which is responsible for the security of the country."
In May 2016, German media reported that the Bundeswehr was temporarily forced to suspend purchase of additional Leopard 2 tanks due to a shortage of budgetary funds. The budget for defense is so tight that it does not allow even to keep the equipment in proper technical condition.
