CDU demands Leopard tank test track in the Kassel district: a residential area in danger?

CDU demands Leopard tank test track in the Kassel district: a residential area in danger?

The CDU in the Kassel district has big plans: it demands that a test track for leopard tanks in the region are set up. This application will be placed on the agenda in the next district meeting on July 3, 2025. The aim of the initiative is not only the testing of the powerful companions, but also closer cooperation with the armaments company KNDS, the main work of which has long been known for the production of parts for Leopard 2, Puma and Panzerhaubitzen 2000. KNDS Germany employs around 1,700 people at three locations.

parliamentary group leader Andreas Mock is concerned about the uncertainties on the international stage and speaks of the responsibility of the district to actively act in these challenging times. According to the current status, the existing test route for Leopard tanks in Munich, which has been used since 1964, is controversial because it is located near residential areas.

economic impulses and training opportunities

The CDU district parliamentary group sees the creation of a test track a chance to not only set economic impulses, but also to create training positions. Mock emphasizes the need to include armaments companies in the career orientation centers in order to offer practical perspectives for young people.

The armaments industry is an important economic factor in Germany. According to an analysis from Tagesschau.de , industry generates around 30 billion euros a year and employs around 135,000 people. The demand for modern fighting armor is high, not least because of the current geopolitical tensions that affect NATO and nations such as Ukraine. Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has already had discussions with important armaments companies to equip the Bundeswehr with new Leopard tanks.

production and delivery bottlenecks

The production of the Leopard 2 takes place in the work of the Franco-German armaments group KNDS, where 40 to 50 Leopard-2 tanks are manufactured annually. However, there are also challenges here. Managing Director Ralf Ketzel pointed out that the production is restricted by complex legal permits and an extensive network of around 2,000 suppliers. In the past, up to one tank could be produced a day, but today the production time for a single Leopard 2 is about two years, which is almost insufficient due to the current demand , as FR.de reported .

The order situation in the collaboration with Hungary, which ordered a larger number of Leopard tanks in 2018, is particularly interesting. Due to political circumstances, however, the supply is delayed, while the Bundeswehr is in the meantime waiting for new Leopard 2A8 tanks, which are to be delivered in 2025.

With the demand for a test route in the district of Kassel, the CDU not only wants to make a contribution to national security, but also the domestic economy, which can be strengthened by modern technologies and armaments projects. It remains to be seen whether the district council agrees to the application and how this could influence the perspectives of the region.

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