(Typo corrected in 2nd paragraph ("18 of 18 of the deployed infantry fighting vehicles", not: "infantry fighting vehicles") and in 3rd paragraph ("highly complex", not: "highly complex"))

BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - The repair of the Puma infantry fighting vehicles that failed during a firing exercise revealed mostly minor and medium damage, according to the Defense Ministry. In isolated cases, they were more serious, the ministry told the Obleuten in the Bundestag on Wednesday in a classified briefing. The ministry "continues to assess the SPz Puma as a technologically advanced weapon system," it added.

After 18 of the deployed infantry fighting vehicles failed during a firing exercise, Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) pulled the emergency brake and had the Puma removed from a German NATO commitment in the VJTF rapid reaction force. The German soldiers reported ready for deployment are now equipped with the older Marder infantry fighting vehicle. It has also put on hold a follow-up purchase of the Puma infantry fighting vehicle.

Fundamental doubts about the system are now not formulated. The infantry fighting vehicle "undoubtedly possesses very promising performance data and the ability to provide the troops with effective superiority in combat," according to the briefing by the senior staff. And: "For a system suitable for war, this superiority in effectiveness must be accompanied by robustness and reliability in deployment and operation," it demands. Experience to date has shown that the highly complex weapon system in its current state of design can only be operated with a closely interlinked technical-logistical concept involving the troops, Army maintenance logistics, project management and industry - in other words, with better cooperation.

In the meantime, 17 of the 18 Puma have been repaired. The infantry fighting vehicle was not declared combat-ready until 2021 and is being built jointly by the defense companies Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). Early on, doubts were expressed by the industry that significant technical problems could occur so frequently. Almost all of the damage was "trivial," a spokesman for the manufacturer, Rheinmetall, said as early as Monday.

In the tank's state-of-the-art technology, computer errors can sometimes be corrected with a readout device. However, this can result in great danger. A Defense Ministry spokesman said Wednesday, "Even supposedly simple failures can lead to death in combat. That's why this needs to be carefully investigated. And that's what we're doing."

The briefing said the failure of individual high-value parts and fire damage would require further technical investigation. In addition, restoring the infantry fighting vehicles to full material operational readiness would in some cases require further work, "which is currently being done at full speed."

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Lambrecht, who came under heavy criticism after her New Year's Eve video, received public backing from Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Asked Wednesday if the defense minister continued to enjoy the chancellor's full confidence, deputy government spokesman Wolfgang Büchner said, "Yes, of course." He reiterated, "The Chancellor works well and in a spirit of trust with all Cabinet colleagues. And that of course also applies to the minister addressed."

With her video distributed over the weekend via Instagram, Lambrecht had once again drawn great criticism. In it, she takes stock of the year 2022, which is marked by the war in Ukraine, but her words are repeatedly drowned out by the whistling of New Year's Eve rockets and exploding firecrackers. There are calls for her resignation from the CDU/CSU. It is awaited with interest whether and how the SPD will respond to the minister at the opening meeting of its parliamentary group next week./cn/DP/ngu