Development of the new Bundeswehr service uniforms has cost millions so far. “A total of around five million euros was paid for the creation of different prototype designs at textile industry companies,” quotes the Bild am Sonntag the Federal Defense Ministry.
On Tuesday, Inspector General Carsten Breuer summoned the inspectors of the Army, Navy, and Air Force to discuss the design of the service uniforms, also known as the evening dress. According to the Bundeswehr, the service uniform is to be worn “outside of military facilities as an evening dress and inside military facilities for official occasions (roll calls, induction ceremonies)”.
The uniform is to include a jacket, trousers, blouse/ shirt, sweater, coat, shoes, and headgear. The ministry plans to equip 293,300 soldiers (including reservists) with the new uniform by 2032, according to the latest information from the ministry. For this, they have requested 825 million euros in the budget committee.
The details of the new uniforms were not fully clarified at the General Inspector’s meeting. “The details of the service uniforms are not yet final,” the ministry stated.
According to Bild am Sonntag, the discussions revolve around details such as pockets to be attached or hidden. Members of the budget committee had criticized the high costs of the procurement project across party lines. Despite parliamentary resistance, the ministry, led by Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD), is sticking to its plan.
CDU budget expert Ingo Gädechens told Bild am Sonntag about the project: “Minister Boris Pistorius has apparently lost control of the ministry.