Latest news with #GermanArmedForces
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Mercedes Electric Semi Truck Delivers Backwards Load To Break New World Record
This week Mercedes-Benz Trucks set a new record for driving a load over the road entirely in reverse, as well as a closed course record for continuous reversing. The driver, Marco Hellgrewe, described as a German Armed Forces officer and "truck enthusiast" was picked to reverse the brand new all-electric Mercedes-Benz eActros 600 to set the records, and absolutely delivered. The day began at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben where Marco pushed the truck in reverse for a new record of 124.7 kilometers without stopping. Once that record had been achieved, Marco drove out onto the public streets, still in reverse, and drove over 30 kilometers from Oschersleben to the new Daimler Truck Global Parts Center in Halberstadt. The key to breaking a new record in reversing a tractor trailer is taking your time and having a police escort. The 30 kilometer drive in reverse took around two hours to complete, meaning the truck was travelling at just under 10 miles per hour for the entirety of the journey. "For me, a big dream has come true: to drive a long distance in reverse on public roads with an all-electric truck and semitrailer. And even being able to do it with the electric flagship eActros 600 from Mercedes-Benz Trucks – which has now become my second home, so to speak," says Hellgrewe. Read more: These Are The Most Annoying Things About Your Cars This isn't the first time a reverse record has been broken in recent years, though it's probably the biggest and heaviest of the ones we have covered. Back in 2018 Audi and ABT Schaeffler built an electric RS3 that went 130 miles per hour in reverse, which was absolutely trounced by the Rimac Nevera in 2023 setting a reverse top speed of 171.34 miles per hour. The prior tractor trailer reverse distance record was set by an Irish farmer in 2017, running almost 21 kilometers backing up. Mercedes-Benz Trucks worked with the mayor of Halberstadt for this project with both parties seeking attention for road safety, electrification, and "truck driver image." Truck drivers are essential to the mechanics of everyday life, bringing the things we need to live from wherever they're made to wherever we are. The job is a tough one with long hours and challenging working conditions, and truckers are vital to any functional economy. The talent that it takes to drive a big rig in the tight confines of any European city must be commended, but to do the whole thing in reverse must be on a completely different level. I'm seriously impressed, how about you? Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
German coalition unveils plans to up defense spending to at least $120B a year by 2030
March 5 (UPI) -- Germany's government-in-waiting unveiled a plan to boost defense spending by hundreds of billions of dollars by the end of the decade by relaxing strict so-called "debt brake" rules enshrined in its constitution, in part due to recent moves by Washington. Friedrich Merz's Christian Democrats, which won the largest share of the vote in elections on Feb. 23, working with the Social Democrats, said Tuesday they planned to ask parliament to exempt defense spending above 1% of GDP from rules that require the country's structural budget deficit does not exceed 0.35% of GDP. Following exploratory talks, the CDU and SPD said they aimed to rush through the plan before the new parliament is formed in an unprecedented effort that would see defense spending jump to as much as $120 billion a year by 2030, paid for by stronger economic growth from a $535 billion stimulus package. "In view of the threats to our freedom and peace on our continent, 'Whatever it takes' must also go for our defense now," Merz said. The most recent decisions by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump had, Merz suggested, played a role in the move by the CDU and its likely governing coalition partners, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's SPD. "The political developments in Europe and the world are evolving faster than we anticipated just a week ago. Germany and Europe must now undertake extraordinary efforts to ensure our defense capabilities," Merz said. SPD co-leader Lars Klingbeil called out the break-down in relations between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky directly, saying the imperative of investing in European strength and security was "the most important task of my political generation." "With a view to the White House and the events that happened last Friday there in the Oval Office with President Zelensky, it has become all the more clear that we need a lot more money for our defense and for security in Europe," said Klingbeil. The CDU and SPD said the urgency of the "special fund" for the German Armed Forces meant they would bring forward a law within six months of the new parliament to expedite planning and procurement for the Bundeswehr, together with a "priority list of quickly procured military equipment that will increase our country's defense readiness quickly and efficiently." They added that given they had been forced to resort to emergency powers to unleash critically needed funds, a commission of experts would be tasked with coming up with legislative proposals to "modernize" the debt brake "to enable additional investments in strengthening our country on a permanent basis." The defense spending increase from $86 billion in 2024 to $120 billion would bring Germany's defense budget within striking distance of the $149 billion, or approximately 3.5% of GDP, needed for German forces to plug the huge gap in the capabilities of its military to meet national defense needs and commitments to allies, according to the Bruegel Institute. The German defense plan came a day after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen floated a $841 billion "ReArm Europe Plan," using all the financial means at the continent's disposal to help member states urgently ramp up defense capabilities. On Feb. 25, Britain, which after the United States has the joint second biggest NATO military alongside Germany -- announced plans to boost its defense budget to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and 3% in the next parliament beginning in 2029. Since coming back into office in January, Trump has been applying huge pressure on U.S. NATO allies in Europe to shoulder more of the burden of the cost of the 32-member country security alliance.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bavarian premier wants tens of thousands of tanks, drones, missiles
In response to the new international security situation, the premier of the southern German state of Bavaria, Markus Söder, is calling for a massive upgrade of the German Armed Forces, the Bundeswehr. "The Bundeswehr needs full equipment. This includes a drone army with 100,000 drones, 800 new tanks, as well as 2,000 Patriots and 1,000 Tauruses just for Germany, as a protective shield similar to [Israel's] 'Iron Dome,'" Söder, who is also leader of the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) party, told Sunday's edition of Die Welt newspaper seen in advance by dpa. Söder stated that the long-range Taurus cruise missiles are "the most important precision weapon" Germany possesses. Patriots are a US anti-aircraft missile system, and the Iron Dome is a system for intercepting rockets, artillery and mortar shells. Söder emphasized that it was a very convincing idea by Friedrich Merz, the man set to become Germany's next chancellor and leader of the CSU's sister party the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), "to additionally establish a nuclear European shield." He asserted this could be provided by France and the United Kingdom and supported by Germany. "Only those who are economically and militarily strong are taken seriously internationally," Söder said. He claimed that it has been clear since the Munich Security Conference and the foreign policy reorientation of the United States since Donald Trump returned to the White House that Europe, and thus Germany, must do more for its own defence. "We need to massively strengthen the Bundeswehr and invest at least 3% of GDP for this purpose."
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
German Armed Forces' inspector general meets Ukraine's commander-in-chief in Kyiv
Carsten Breuer, Inspector General of the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces), has arrived in Ukraine ahead of the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. Source: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on Telegram, as reported by European Pravda Details: In a video of his meeting with Syrskyi, Breuer stated that Ukraine is "fighting for our freedom". Syrskyi stated that he briefed his German counterpart about the situation on the contact line and expressed gratitude to Germany for its unwavering support in Ukraine's fight against Russian aggression. The parties discussed the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in terms of weaponry, ammunition, military and specialised equipment, as well as the training of Ukrainian troops. "During the meeting, we also addressed the maintenance and repair of German-made military equipment currently in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine," Syrskyi added. Background: Breuer's previous visit to Ukraine, which was also unannounced for security reasons, took place in February 2024. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently held a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during which they discussed ways to achieve a "just peace" in Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
German president: Europe must carry 'balanced burden-sharing' in NATO
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged the United States to coordinate any shifts in its European military presence with European NATO allies in his opening speech on Friday at the Munich Security Conference. "We have heard the wake-up call," Steinmeier said. Increases in defence spending by European countries so far have been necessary, including investment in the German Armed Forces, or Bundeswehr, Steinmeier said. But he added that those steps are no reason for complacency. "More concretely: The growth must continue. Our Bundeswehr must become stronger - not to wage war, but to prevent war," said Steinmeier. He advocated an increase in defence spending well above the previous NATO target of 2% of gross domestic product (GDP). NATO allies agreed to the 2% target at a gathering in Wales in 2014, but it was created in "a different time, a different threat situation," Steinmeier said. More is now needed: "Any new German government will have to create the necessary financial leeway for this." "We need balanced burden-sharing between Europe and the United States. NATO must stand on two equally strong legs so that it retains its value for both sides," said Steinmeier. Addressing the US government, Steinmeier said: "We share the goal, so let's coordinate the way there. In any case, none of us can have an interest in weakening NATO's capabilities in the short term or even calling NATO into question in the long term."
