German lawmakers will sign off, in early July 2023, on government plans to buy 60 Boeing Co. Chinook helicopters and three maritime surveillance vessels for a total of more than €11 billion ($11.9 billion), according to people familiar with the plans.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s governing coalition has asked for approval to spend €7.2 billion on the 60 CH-47F helicopters, together with an additional €750 million for infrastructure and maintenance, according to a government document dated June 22, 2023 that was seen by Bloomberg.
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Due to cost overruns, it has also requested permission to increase the funds allocated for the three ships — manufactured by Bremen-based NVL BV & Co. KG — to about €3.45 billion from €2.1 billion, the people said. The budget committee of the Bundestag, or lower house, is scheduled to approve the spending at a July 5 meeting, they said.
Der CH-47F Chinook soll der neue schwere Transporthubschrauber für die #Bundeswehr werden. Mit diesem Modell stärken wir unsere Kooperationsfähigkeit in Europa. Er ist modern, erprobt & wird er bereits von #NATO-Partnern genutzt. Das Parlament muss dem noch zustimmen. pic.twitter.com/houOlAW2jj
— Verteidigungsministerium (@BMVg_Bundeswehr) June 1, 2022
The big-ticket procurements are part of Germany’s effort to expand and modernize the armed forces triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
They will be financed from a special €100 billion fund established in 2022 to boost military spending, on top of the regular annual defense budget of about €50 billion.
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A Boeing spokesperson said the company is looking forward to working with the U.S. and German governments to finalize the helicopter sale.
A spokesperson for NVL declined to comment on the cost of the ships and pointed to a 2021 statement on the order.
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