Army: modernization drive for pioneers – salzburg.ORF.at
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The Armed Forces are modernizing the equipment and training of pioneers at a cost of millions. New, heavy and urgently needed equipment is ordered, also for civil protection. Investments are also being made in the training and accommodation of pioneers.
Special equipment for engineer units in Salzburg, Carinthia, Tyrol and Lower Austria is purchased for 100 million euros – such as crawler excavators, special trucks, compressor trailers with generators and new cable car systems for the engineer battalion 2 in Salzburg.
There are also workshops, diagnostic devices for agricultural machinery, construction machinery, trailers, trucks and boats, as well as diving equipment sets and compressors for pioneer divers, anchor winches or recovery winches. There will also be more training places for officers and non-commissioned officers, announced René Auer from the Salzburg Military Command.
“Challenges are getting bigger and harder”
“The challenges are getting bigger and harder for our soldiers too. The pioneers of the army support civilian forces, for example, in flood operations, snow and storm disasters, rockfalls or landslides. And mastering such tasks requires modern equipment and correspondingly good training. These missions are becoming more and more dangerous and challenging for the soldiers of the federal army – as well as for the civilian emergency services,” says Auer.
In Salzburg, barracks are also being modernized, with a further EUR 16.8 million earmarked for this year. In addition, nine million euros will be used for self-sufficiency measures in the barracks – for example to prevent a blackout.