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The German Army's Future Infantryman System
The German Army is currently undergoing a modernisation and transformation process which is designed to take account of the worldwide political changes of the last decade as well as of the new challenges which are influencing the development of modern warfare.
Today, military planners face a high likelihood of conducting operations under conditions of asymmetry. This not only relates to differences in weaponry and materiel, or in procedures and tactics, but also to differences in overriding aims, values and in the very nature and individual behaviour of the "enemy". The already wide range of asymmetrical risks must be seen against the background of the nation states' faded monopoly of power, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and the huge psychological impact of fanatical terrorism. Moreover, we continue to face more conventional risks in the heart of Europe.
Transformation Effort
To meet these challenges and risks, Germany has set up a comprehensive and Government-wide approach of larger security, which has resulted in a wider spectrum of tasks for the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). Although the Bundeswehr's mission has not changed fundamentally, the priorities within the spectrum of tasks have been adjusted to the most probable future missions. The enlarged task spectrum ranges from nation-building to high intensity combat. Threats are now to be countered...