"Focus on the main task"

"Focus on the main task"

VIENNA. New Chief of Staff Robert Brieger wants to focus on military defense.

General Robert Brieger Photo: APA

His predecessor Othmar Commenda had done "a great job", he was going to plug it into some areas. General Robert Brieger was rebadured yesterday in a joint press release with Defense Minister Mario Kunasek (FP) after the inauguration of the new Chief of Staff of the Maria Theresa Barracks in Vienna [19659005]. In the future, the federal army will focus more on training and preparation to focus on its core military mission and less on "subsidiary tasks such as civil protection". Finally, the army was now facing new challenges, but also a deadly one – many states were once again mbadively investing in conventional warfare.

Special Budgets for the Air Fleet

Brieger also addressed the tight financial corset of the army. He confirmed that there must be a special budget for urgent investments. Specifically, with the inauguration of the General Division General (ie the general two-star to four-star) promoted the referral on the surveillance of airspace with supersonic aircraft and the replacement of the old helicopters (Alouette III and OH-58 "Kiowa"). "Active surveillance of the airspace is essential, there must be a solution," said the chief of staff, questioned on the Eurofighter issue. He is counting on a decision this year. The decision on the purchase of new helicopters is expected to fall later this year. Both are major investments that can not be funded from the regular budget and for which there must be additional funds. (eku)

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