The Marder fighting vehicle failed the Bundeswehr's digital communication test
Outdated analog systems proved incompatible with new equipment. Newer Puma vehicles will be temporarily provided for the NATO brigade.
The German army has failed to integrate the Marder infantry fighting vehicle into the new D-LBO basic digital communication system. During operational tests at the Munster training ground, the vehicle did not meet the specified criteria for operating with the equipment, reports the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung.
According to information cited by German media, the problems are related to incompatibility between modern digital radio technology and components of the Marder, which was developed in the 1970s. This concerns the analog onboard communication and the connection systems between the crew and the infantry squad.
Marder temporarily replaced by Puma
Due to the test results, the 37th Panzergrenadier Brigade will carry out its upcoming NATO mission without the originally planned Marder formation. The two Panzergrenadier battalions will be equipped with newer Puma fighting vehicles.
Among the units that will provide equipment is the 112th Panzergrenadier Battalion from Bavaria. The brigade is scheduled to become digitally operational by the beginning of January 2027 and will serve as a German rapid deployment formation to support the defense of Lithuania until the full establishment of the 45th Armored Brigade.
"The fact that some components are several decades old is likely the reason why the new technology does not work with them," a spokesperson for the German Ministry of Defense told FAZ. According to him, it is not yet clear if or when the Marder will return to the brigade's composition.
Berlin maintains digitalization schedule
The German Ministry of Defense considers the core functionality of the D-LBO to be confirmed. The system has been tested under realistic tactical conditions, including during live-fire exercises with Leopard 2, Puma, and Marder fighting vehicles.
"The D-LBO system works," said Defense Minister Boris Pistorius during the presentation of the interim results. At the same time, he admitted that the industry has not retrofitted as many vehicles as had been agreed upon.
The D-LBO is intended to digitally connect more than 10,000 military vehicles and platforms. By the end of 2026, it was planned to upgrade 2,700 vehicles, but according to German media, implementation is lagging by about 300 vehicles. While the retrofitting continues, some of the older vehicles will operate in a mixed mode using additional devices that connect them to the digital network.
After the 37th Panzergrenadier Brigade, the digital equipment is to be introduced into the 45th Armored Brigade "Lithuania" by July 1, 2027. By the end of that same year, Berlin plans to complete the digitalization of the 10th Armored Division. The Marder will remain in the program, but the German army must first resolve the incompatibility between its outdated onboard electronics and the new communication system.
