Germany commits to developing new armored vehicle for air defense.

Last December, a report from the German Federal Audit Office expressed concerns about the significant increase in the costs of the LVS NNbs program (Luftverteidigungssystems für den Nah- und Nächstbereichsschutz), aimed at improving and expanding the short-range air defense capabilities of the Bundeswehr. This program aims to replace the Ocelot system, which was based on a Wiesel 2 vehicle equipped with Stinger missiles, after the retirement of the Gepard armored vehicle.
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This program aims to replace the Ocelot system, which was based on a Wiesel 2 vehicle equipped with Stinger missiles (Picture source: Rheinmetall)

The program's goal is to replace the Ocelot system, which was based on a Wiesel 2 vehicle equipped with Stinger missiles, after the retirement of the Gepard armored vehicle.

The BRH revealed that the estimated costs by the involved companies - Rheinmetall Electronics, Hensoldt Sensors, and Diehl Defence - would amount to 1.3 billion euros, while the German Ministry of Defense had initially budgeted 240.6 million euros for this project.

The report, cited by the weekly Der Spiegel, highlighted a fivefold increase in development costs, without a convincing explanation from the public procurement office for this significant rise.

Among the proposals from the industry, there was the use of an infantry fighting vehicle Boxer 8x8, weighing nearly thirty tons, equipped with IRIS-T missiles and a Spexer radar for target detection and tracking.

In response to the urgency, the Bundestag (lower house of the German Parliament) finally approved this increased budget. On January 18, its Budget Committee authorized the launch of the program for an amount of approximately 1.3 billion euros.

Two new versions of the Boxer could be developed as part of the LVS NNbs. In addition to the version equipped with Iris-T missiles, the second version would integrate Rheinmetall's Skyranger 30 cannon. The goal is to connect these SHORAD vehicles to the medium-range air defense system IRIS-T SLM from Diehl, creating a more extensive multi-layered "shield."

The initial investment will be financed by the special fund of the Bundeswehr, endowed with 100 billion euros, before transitioning to the regular budget of the Ministry of Defense. A prototype of the system is planned for 2028, according to the ministry.

This means that the Bundeswehr will have to wait before having a fully operational capability. This comes as the industry had promised a quick and low-risk national solution, based on systems and components available in the market.

The German Ministry of Defense emphasizes the importance of mobile and protected air defense systems, referring to lessons learned from the conflict in Ukraine. As an example, the Gepard armored vehicles, retired in 2010, have been reinstated and delivered to the Ukrainian army.