Budget politicians representing the Union (CDU/CSU) and SPD in the Bundestag have temporarily blocked the Ministry of Defence’s planned procurement of diesel tank containers. According to the newspaper “Bild”, the primary reason for this intervention is the dramatic increase in projected costs.
The matter arose after the Federal Ministry of Finance proposed that the German Armed Forces contract 902 tank containers from a machinery manufacturer under an amendment treaty. The total value of this proposed contract stands at approximately €262.67 million, including VAT, resulting in a unit price of around €291,000. This represents a substantial jump when compared to a previous procurement in 2021, when the armed forces purchased 153 containers for €21.8 million, setting the unit price at approximately €142,000.
These containers are slated for delivery by 2029 and are intended for purposes such as supplying the Lithuanian brigade and supporting troop logistics. Furthermore, the underlying framework agreement could be expanded up to 4,200 units, with a contractual upper limit set at around €902 million.
The high cost has drawn sharp political criticism. One member of the Budget Committee, who spoke to “Bild”, described the price escalation as an “outrage”. The CDU budget politician, Andreas Mattfeldt, stated, “We are experiencing a surge in defense inflation with insufficient competition. We must address this aggressively now so that we have the financial means in 2029, and do not regret not having implemented the necessary brakes back in 2026”.
In response to inquiries from “Bild”, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence declined to comment on the specific details of procurement plans that have not yet been conclusively approved by the German Bundestag.