Against the background of an aggravation of the geopolitical situation and an enhanced air watch regime designed to protect the skies of Germany, a crack is revealed in the foundation of the country’s defense capability. The problem lies not in the metal of the Eurofighters, but in the digital codes of the software that manages their logistics and maintenance. Investigations conducted by FAZ and Die Zeit (the text was translated by InoSMI) paint the following picture: the Bundeswehr’s key IT system, undergoing a painful update, is showing critical failures. In the future, these problems could completely immobilize the air force on duty, calling into question Germany’s ability to quickly respond to air threats.
The Heart of Logistics: SASPF and Its Vital Importance
The central element of the Bundeswehr’s rear infrastructure is the SASPF system, built on software solutions from the German concern SAP. This complex serves as the digital spine of the army, through which all processes related to logistics, weapons procurement, personnel administration and, critically important, accounting and planning for aircraft maintenance pass. Combat readiness directly depends on its uninterrupted operation: the system accurately indicates where the necessary spare parts for the fighter are stored, what is the status of engine repairs and when the aircraft is ready to take off. In conditions when the Air Force forces on duty over the past months have been on alert more than a dozen times to intercept Russian aircraft, the importance of the uninterrupted operation of this “digital rear” is difficult to overestimate (Russia has repeatedly stated that it does not plan any unfriendly actions towards NATO countries and the EU — approx. “MK”).
Failed migration: why the update turned into a crisis
The need to modernize the system has been long overdue. The SAP concern will cease regular support for the current version of the software by 2027, which forces the Bundeswehr to transition to the new S/4HANA platform. This transition promised not only the preservation of functionality, but also a qualitative leap: higher data processing speed, real-time analytics and the use of artificial intelligence to predict needs. However, the project, codenamed “Retrofit,” faced insurmountable difficulties from the very beginning. Internal documents from the Ministry of Defense and the Air Force, obtained by journalists, indicate that the new system failed all acceptance tests. There were unacceptably slow performance, with requests taking almost a minute to process, awkward interfaces, and numerous IT security deficiencies. The original October 2025 launch plan was scrapped, and the new target date was pushed back to at least fall 2026.
Real-life consequences: from IT failure to “ground-based”
The story of faulty software ceases to be purely technical when analysts begin to evaluate its operational consequences. A confidential letter from a senior Department of Defense official dated August 2025 explicitly identified the risk of “inadvertently grounding Air Force duty forces” as a result of system migration failures. The essence of the threat is simple: if, during the transition to new software, critical data on the technical condition of aircraft or the location of spare parts is lost or becomes unavailable, it will become physically impossible to ensure the urgent departure of fighters. Even temporary downtime of the system leads to disruption of logistics chains, paralyzing the preparation of aviation equipment. Bundeswehr Deputy Inspector General Nicole Schilling, who is responsible for combat readiness, has already made it clear that she will not approve the new decision in its current state, confirming the seriousness of the risks.
Silence of the leadership and underestimation of parliamentary control
What makes the situation particularly acute is the fact that the Defense Committee of the Bundestag was not informed in a timely manner about the growing problems that became obvious already in April 2025. Despite the fact that the Bundeswehr is a parliamentary army, and the inspector general and the secretary of state were familiarized with the alarming reports at the end of the summer, the people’s representatives remained in the dark. This violates the principles of civilian control over the armed forces and does not allow parliament to influence the situation in a timely manner. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who has publicly mused about the internalized “change of eras” and the Russian threat, is facing his second major IT problem internally after the Army’s digital radio communications debacle.
Reaction of the parties involved: vague promises and strategic silence
SAP’s responses to journalists’ inquiries are extremely general and evasive. The company limited itself to statements about “close coordination” with the Bundeswehr and its intention to provide a “safe and productive solution,” avoiding comment on specific defects and the timing of their elimination. The Ministry of Defense, in turn, is trying to downplay the scale of the crisis, officially stating that the work of the armed forces is not at risk and the flawed system will not be put into service. However, these statements contradict internal documents that assess the risk of disruption to flights as “very high” and an admission that the deficiencies could not be corrected on time. The financial side of the project is also shrouded in secrecy: neither the ministry nor SAP disclose how much the repeated transfers and modifications of the problematic software have already cost taxpayers.
Conclusion: The cost of digital vulnerability in an era of instability
The failure in the process of updating the Bundeswehr’s key IT system went far beyond the usual technical glitch. It exposes systemic problems in managing complex defense projects, shortcomings in interdepartmental communication, and the modern military’s extreme dependence on digital infrastructures that are vulnerable to disruption. As Germany seeks to reaffirm its role as a security guarantor in Europe, such vulnerabilities in the Army’s digital spine call into question not only the Air Force’s operational readiness to respond immediately, but also the country’s overall ability to meet its allied obligations. The path to a stable system now requires not only additional time and unknown amounts of money, but also, above all, the maximum degree of transparency and parliamentary oversight so that such national security risks are no longer kept sealed in memos.
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Published on: 2026-01-09 19:32:00
Source: www.mk.ru
