Germany faces inflated Nato drone bill

Germany’s bill for the Nato drone defence system seems set to rise by about a quarter to hit nearly half a billion euros, according to secret Finance Ministry documents. News magazine Der Spiegel reported on Tuesday it had seen a 17-page dossier saying that Germany was likely to have to pay significantly more than initially agreed for the Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) – to plug a financial gap left by other countries who have backed out of the Nato project. The dossier also says that German armed forces are expected to spend €260 million on up to four of its own unmanned drones in order to ensure the AGS capabilities. And although costs to the German budget are spiralling, the government is determined to support the concept, which is described as of “paramount significance” for military-political and operative considerations, the dossier says. Germany will do, “everything possible to contribute to its success,” it continues, according to Der Spiegel. Nato defence ministers finally reached a compromise over the AGS project this spring, with German Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziére calling the drones pioneering. They are due to be presented as the perfect example of smart defence policies at the Nato summit in Chicago later […]
Germany faces inflated Nato drone bill