Bundesheer: ... and a better equipped spearhead

The Austrian Federal Army is being modernized and geared towards the challenges of the future, and today the package was presented at the ministry. A total of 1.2 billion euros will be invested by 2020 for necessary acquisitions. The package includes all areas, ranging from equipment to vehicles to the necessary ICT infrastructure for cyber defense.

The focus is on the protection and modern equipment of the soldiers. This includes primarily the procurement of protective equipment - in the image above Military Police in full gear -, personal equipment, clothing, and weapons. This concerns regular forces, conscripts, and reservists alike. In total, around 90 million euros were invested in 2016 and 2017 for the protection of the soldiers. Around 25 million euros were available last year for the maintenance and further development of protective equipment, personal equipment, and clothing. This amount also represents the budget for 2017.

Not included in this are acquisitions from the area of the armament program, such as in 2016 the acquisition of 20,000 new combat helmets (Ops-Core Sentry) worth approximately 20 million euros.

In 2016 and 2017, around 10 million euros are invested annually in the arming of the soldiers.

ACQUISITIONS IN PROGRESS

Protective Equipment

• Bulletproof vests, 2,000 pieces,
• Combat helmets: 2015 20,000 pieces,
• Soft ballistic plate carriers, 400 sets,
• Hard ballistic plate carriers, 150 sets,
• Crowd and Riot Control (CRC) equipment for the Military Police, 35 sets plus spare parts,
• Helmet with ballistic visor for the Military Police, 36 pieces,
• CRC sets for soldiers 2018, 1,240 pieces,
• Stab-proof vests, 380 pieces.

Clothing

• Operational overalls for the Military Police, 400 pieces,
• Pilot shoes, 950 pairs,
• Mesh scarves, 17,500 pieces.

Personal Equipment

• Multitool, 2,000 pieces,
• Headlamps, 7,500 pieces.

ACQUISITIONS UNTIL 2020

Protective Equipment

• Ballistic eye protection, 42,000 pieces, Purpose: Protection of the eyes from fragments or rockfall. The glasses can be customized as needed with interchangeable lenses (clear, sun protection, contrast enhancement, and laser protection lenses). The tender is currently being conducted.
• Stab-proof vests, 380 pieces,
• CRC equipment for overseas deployments, 1,240 pieces,
• CRC sets for soldiers 2018, 3,000 pieces. Purpose: The protective equipment (protective vest, deployment helmet, protectors) is intended for the protection of soldiers in law enforcement operations, and if necessary, in other infantry scenarios, especially for the protection of the upper body, head, arms and hands, legs, as well as the genital and buttocks areas against blows, impacts, stabbing weapons, other sharp objects, and projectiles in the upper body area.

Clothing

• Ongoing development of Special Forces clothing,
• The new lightweight combat boot, 42,000 pieces. Purpose: The new combat boot is intended to become the property of conscripts and cadre soldiers for the first time upon delivery. The companies Stumpp and Bauer are awarded 42,000 pairs for 2017 at approximately 51€ each, totaling around 2.22 million euros.

Personal Equipment

• Eating utensils, 60,000 pieces,
• Soldier set, 32,800 pieces. Purpose: Equipment for basic military training to manage everyday soldier life. Components: Shoulder bag, soldier's knife, headlamp, camouflage makeup, notepad, pocket pencil, string, wristwatch, 5 all-purpose bags, keychain, lighter. Tender is currently in progress.
• Skiing System New, 4,100 pieces. Purpose: Improving the mobility of soldiers in the mountains. Components: Short skis 170 cm, safety binding, ski stopper, crampons, climbing skins

Total amount: Around 25 million euros.

FUTURE ACQUISITIONS FOR INFANTRY AND SPECIAL FORCES

Sniper Equipment

• Heavy sniper rifle (SSG), 102 pieces,
• Medium SSG, 120 pieces,
• Light SSG, 72 pieces,
• Sniper scope for SSG, 270 pieces,
• Low-light night vision device for SSG, 240 pieces,
• Thermal imaging device for SSG, 240 pieces.

Assault Rifle 77

• New housing version A3, 4,200 pieces,
• Tactical laser-light modules, 600 pieces

Glock Pistol

• Glock 26 pistol, 300 pieces,
• Combat holster for P80, 4,000 pieces,
• Tactical light GTL 52 for P80, 670 pieces,
• Tactical light GTL11 for P80, 3,890 pieces.

Equipment

• Mini night vision goggles, 400 pieces,
• Helmet mount for night vision goggles LUCIE, 2,000 pieces.
• Total amount: Around 10 million euros.

Displayed at the press conference: StG77A2

Photos & Videos: Bundesheer