Germany buys better armoured vehicle for Afghan force (Roundup)

Dec 22, 2010, 13:22 GMT

Berlin - Germany is purchasing better armoured vehicles for its military fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan, defence ministry sources in Berlin said on Wednesday at the same time as the government was insisting it had a withdrawal timetable in place.

Soldiers have complained that they are in danger because their armoured cars have vulnerabilities to Taliban snipers and mines.

The sources said Berlin would buy Mark 2 versions of the Dingo, an armoured car that has a machinegun turret and carries five infantrymen, and was studying whether to ship up to eight Tiger helicopter gunships to Afghanistan.

Germany has no ground attack aircraft in Afghanistan and relies on US air force cover or its own long-range artillery pieces to bombard Taliban positions. Germany has up to 5,000 soldiers with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

The move comes amid conflicting signals from Berlin about the deployment. The government officially said last week it would begin drawing down the force at the end of next year - but Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg has suggested more time is needed.

A government spokesman denied there was any disagreement. Deputy spokesman Christoph Steegmans said the start of withdrawal 'will depend on the assessment of the situation as a pre-condition.'

He said the official statement, read to parliament December 16 by Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle and making this conditional commitment to bring the first soldiers home was 'in the name of every cabinet member.'

The defence ministry confirmed a report in the Financial Times Deutschland that the army would also ensure it had seven remote-controlled robots permanently available to detect and disable roadside bombs and booby traps.

Previously it announced the purchase of 157 armoured trucks made by Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles, the new Multi A4 FSA type. Berlin has also ordered 195 Eagle IV vehicles, a Swiss-made armoured jeep.

Germany has been re-equipping since the Taliban opened a new front into northern Afghanistan where German forces are based.

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