Western military equipment provided to Ukraine to combat Russian aggression often needs repair, but the repair process is significantly slowed down by the lack of necessary spare parts and bureaucratic obstacles. As DW reports, due to the intensive use, in particular of the German Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzers, much of the equipment breaks down, and repairs often take several months.
One Ukrainian artilleryman spoke about problems with German howitzers, which often suffer from software failures, overheating of control systems and barrels. According to him, sometimes up to two-thirds of the howitzers fail, and the repair process is delayed due to a shortage of spare parts.
However, the problems are not only technical. The lack of necessary spare parts, as well as the difficulty of obtaining export licenses for each part, significantly slows down the repair process. According to sources, it can take several months to obtain a license for each spare part, which adds to the delays.
Despite the difficulties, efforts are being made to improve the situation. The Franco-German arms group KNDS has opened an office in Kyiv to improve coordination with Ukrainian authorities and speed up equipment repairs. Germany is also working to provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with materials for self-maintenance.
The German government has expressed its intention to create a “military Schengen zone” that would simplify the process of obtaining licenses within the EU and speed up the transportation of weapons between member states. These steps could greatly facilitate the process of repairing equipment and speed up its return to the front.
