Germany Invests in New VIP Jets Following G20 Debacle

Germany to Acquire New Government Jets Amid Breakdown Concerns

Germany is set to procure a new fleet of government jets following a series of issues that have left officials stranded, exposing the inadequate technical state of much of its military equipment.

The decision, announced late on Friday, came after a notable incident last year when Chancellor Angela Merkel was unable to attend the beginning of a G20 summit in Buenos Aires due to a radio failure that forced her government jet to return mid-flight.

Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the country will purchase a new Airbus A350 later this year, with plans for two additional jets to follow suit. This marks a departure from the existing practice of operating older second-hand A340s, which are no longer in production, along with some smaller aircraft.

These breakdowns have underscored broader challenges faced by the armed forces in improving technical readiness as Germany cautiously shifts toward a more interventionist role on the global stage. The military has grappled with procurement delays, cost overruns, and misalignments in technology that have hindered efforts to modernize the naval fleet, while deadlines for selecting a new fighter aircraft have consistently been missed.

In the wake of the incident involving Merkel, International Development Minister Gerd Müller found himself briefly stranded in Malawi earlier this year due to another breakdown of a government aircraft.