Hummers are wearing out, the budget is stuck: The gap that worries the IDF
The IDF defines the new Hummers as "force multipliers" that allow for rapid movement deep into enemy territory, but part of the jeep fleet has already crossed 30 years of service and the rate of wear is high. In the defense establishment, they warn that without opening the budget, it is impossible to renew the order of battle: "The ground forces need as many as possible, and as quickly as possible."
While the IDF defines the new Hummer jeeps as force multipliers deep in enemy territory, security officials warn that there is no budget to renew the aging fleet of Hummer jeeps — part of which has crossed the 30-year threshold of military service.
The IDF's brigade combat teams, which are at the forefront of the fighting, defined the purchase of the new Hummer jeeps, with the accompanying military equipment installed by the Technology and Logistics Directorate, as "force multipliers." One officer said in a conversation with Walla:
"The ability to move forces from arena to arena quickly, and from the border deep into enemy territory in complex topographical terrain, received a boost with the purchase of the Hummer jeeps, which replaced a very old and, to put it mildly, worn-out fleet. There is no vehicle today that competes with the speed and mobility of the new Hummer jeep. The ground forces need as many of them as possible, and as quickly as possible."
According to the senior officer, not only does the new jeep improve the level of mobility and its speed — it also helps in protecting the forces.
However, according to sources in the defense establishment, in the absence of a framework for opening the state budget, including the defense budget, a large gap remains in the mobility of the IDF's ground arm.
The sources said that although the budget gap has not yet been resolved, the Ministry of Defense continues to do everything in its power to reduce it, and is taking all steps that can be taken — including a limited purchase of dozens of Hummers. The final number will be agreed upon in negotiations. According to official security sources, the deal is being led by the procurement delegation in the USA, the Procurement Administration, and the Budget Department.
It was also stated by sources in the defense establishment that the deal is in the approval stages, and if there are no further surprises from the Treasury — "we hope we can sign soon."
It should be noted that in the last three years, the Ministry of Defense has purchased many hundreds of Hummers for the IDF, but the rate of wear is significantly higher, and the jeep fleet is aging — part of it has crossed the 30-year service threshold. The mobility gaps on land are large and deepening in the absence of an adequate response, which will only come with the opening of the budget and the "numerator," which will bring with them sources for returning to operational readiness and renewing the fleet as planned in the original program. According to the claims, this delay is in addition to the delay in the procurement of aircraft and munitions for all branches.
