Boris Pistorius began this year’s traditional summer trip of the Federal Minister of Defence with visits to several locations of the German Armed Forces. The starting point on Monday this week was Tactical Air Wing 71 “Richthofen” in Wittmund, followed by the Naval Operations School in Bremerhaven and on Tuesday the Command Rapid Deployment Forces Medical Service “Ostfriesland” in Leer. On Wednesday the minister stopped at the Homeland Security Division and the Guard Battalion at the Julius-Leber Barracks in Berlin.
During this visit he also awarded the Guard Battalion, as the first unit of the German Armed Forces, the banner of the Federal Ministry of Defence. In his subsequent speech he emphasized the battalion’s dual function as a protocol and security unit. “You fight and protect when it matters,” the minister told the soldiers. “You are therefore both the business card of our country and at the same time a part of its shield. And this double responsibility makes your unit literally unique within the Bundeswehr.”
On Thursday, Pistorius gained a personal impression of the current capabilities of the Training and Exercise Center for Air Mobility in Celle. As the Army’s central training facility, it serves the troop training of national and international forces across the entire spectrum of air-mobile operations. The main user is the Rapid Forces Division. But also the Air Force’s security units, Marine Corps, or for example units of the Jäger or Gebirgsjäger regularly train in Celle.
Defence Minister criticises industry delivery delays
After the welcome and a discussion with the commander, Colonel Sönke Schmuck, the minister looked at the simulation-based training landscape. In addition to the presentation of modern training technologies, a scenario involving several aircraft in Virtual Battle Space 4 was depicted. This was followed by a roundtable discussion with female and male soldiers as well as civilian staff.
Subsequently, the trip continued to the binational German-Dutch Armoured Battalion 414. After the welcome and a discussion with the commander, Lieutenant Colonel Prinz zu Löwenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg, Minister Pistorius held talks with the soldiers of the unit. They then demonstrated parts of their capabilities as part of a practical demonstration. Additionally, in Lohheide on the same day a new heavy equipment of the Army was presented: the Heavy Infantry Weapons Carrier based on the GTK Boxer.
Subsequently, however, Pistorius explained to the press that training on this system would begin with a delay because the industry had not delivered eight vehicles on time. “We are in very close contact with the industry on these issues,” said the minister. Such delivery delays must be the absolute exception. Eleven more vehicles are planned by the end of 2026, and they must arrive on time: “We will remind the industry again of our agreements.”
Nächste Stationen: Unna, Ohrdruf und Külsheim
Next Tuesday Pistorius will be at Supply Battalion 7 in Unna, the logistical backbone of the 21st Armoured Brigade “Lipperland.” Supply, transport, and maintenance are among the unit’s main tasks. It supplies combat formations with consumables such as ammunition, operating materials, spare parts, and rations. Using trucks or heavy transports, it transports almost everything—from a water bottle to a combat vehicle. With specialized equipment and training, the battalion’s soldiers maintain weapons systems and vehicles. The large equipment used for this purpose will be demonstrated in a forthcoming demonstration.
On Wednesday the minister will visit the Homeland Security Regiment 5 in Ohrdruf. The regiment, like all regiments of the Homeland Security Division, consists mostly of reservists. In addition to talks with the commander of the Homeland Security Regiment, Colonel Siegfried Zeyer, the exchange with female and male soldiers is also the focus here.
On Thursday, July 23, Pistorius will then be at Transport Helicopter Regiment 30 “Tauberfranken” at the training area in Külsheim. The Army Aviation Association from Niederstetten is currently establishing a helicopter deployment unit for NATO and is preparing for a certification exercise. In addition to talks with the regimental commander Colonel Roger Kahle-Specht and the soldiers of the unit, the defence minister will also be shown a contour flight of the NH90 transport helicopters.
