Sascha Brüning is Vice President (VP) at Vincorion. The German technology company specializes in generators, energy systems and power generation units and its products are used by the Austrian Armed Forces in the Eurofighter, but also in vehicles from Rheinmetall and KNDS In an interview with Militär Aktuell editor-in-chief Jürgen Zacharias, Brüning explains why the topic of “Green Defense” is particularly important for the company and what challenges are associated with it.
Mr. Brüning, what does “Green Defence” mean for you personally and for the defence industry as a whole?
I am convinced that we are facing two “cold wars” in Europe. The first is the fight against climate change. The reason I say this so drastically is that, in the face of advancing climate change, it has been clear to us since the mid-2000s at the latest that we need to take action – including in the defense industry. To this end, the NATOthe US Army (-> current news about the US armed forces) and some European armed forces have issued clear climate targets. According to our key figures, the armed forces cause CO2 emissions of 343 million tons per year. This is significant and shows that we must also do our part to protect the planet in the area of defense.
Now we come to the second Cold War: We do not know how and when the conflict in Ukraine (-> current news from the Ukraine war) will end. But we do know that Europe can no longer return to the time before February 2022. That is why everyone is talking about rearmament, armament, readiness for war and war capability. Talking to soldiers, it becomes clear that defense capability is their top priority. However, as long as the topic of “green defense” does not restrict this capability, soldiers are quite open to it. And that is precisely the crux of the matter. Our efforts are measured by whether “green defense” is in conflict or in harmony with the strengthening of defense capability. Our aim is therefore to work on climate targets, but at the same time enable our customers to achieve superiority at a technological level …
… in other words, more sustainability combined with greater effectiveness and defense capability?
It can only work like this. The troops always want to be as well equipped as possible in order to be as effective as possible. Against this backdrop, CO2 neutrality plays only a subordinate role for soldiers; it is primarily a political goal. As an industry, however, we have an obligation to pursue both goals in an appropriate and complementary manner. Soldiers cannot be expected to limit their capabilities with a view to CO2 neutrality. If this is the case, “green defense” will fail.
That sounds like a difficult balancing act. How do you solve this problem at Vincorion?
Let’s take electricity generation as a use case – be it in vehicles, for air defense systems such as the Patriot system or with tactical units, for example in field camps. We can improve sustainability in two ways. Firstly, we are replacing technologies in existing systems that are decades old, for example diesel engines, where environmental protection has not yet played a role. Replacing these systems Stage 5 engines with exhaust filters, as we install them, significantly reduce consumption. In normal use – i.e. in peacetime – these Stage 5 engines then run and, in an emergency, the exhaust gas aftertreatment can be removed to allow the user to use all fuels and increase operational capability.
The second major point is the use of new technologies, for example hybrid gensets, where we also work with energy storage systems to cushion peak loads. Power units with a mains connection are also possible. Nowadays, a diesel genset in air defense is in operation 24 hours a day because the radar has to run without interruption. Newer gensets offer connection options to the public grid. If the grid breaks down, the diesel genset takes over without interruption. Another option is to absorb peak loads, as mentioned above. Engines and systems are often designed for these peak loads. In the field of air defense, for example, this is the extension of the support arms for the radar carriers. This requires more energy than “normal” operation. However, if significantly smaller engines that are designed for normal operation are used and the peak loads are achieved with energy storage systems, the system consumes significantly less fuel at the end of the day. This results in further advantages. For example, today a Patriot battery has to be refueled twice a day with a tanker truck. By using smaller engines, this may only be necessary once a day, or even less often. This saves fuel in the system, but also in logistics, as the tanker truck also has to travel less frequently – which ultimately also serves the safety of the soldiers.
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Can these arguments convince users straight away? Or do you need additional persuasion to present the advantages more clearly? And another important question: Are there countries or target groups in which your arguments fall on particularly fertile ground, while elsewhere they need to be adapted more?
Again, there are two sides to this. The users – and we are talking here about the soldiers who operate the systems – are happy to accept the advantages that the systems have through mains operation, lower noise emissions and the lower heat signature. This ultimately also increases their protection. One level higher – in the ministry, for example – the issue is how these systems are financed. The central issue remains how much an individual system may cost – and what restrictions this means for other procurements. As budget funds are generally limited, priorities must be clearly set. Particularly in times when the principle of “mass matters” is once again gaining in importance, a balanced mix of quantity and quality is nevertheless essential.
And to your second question: different countries are of course pushing the topic of “green defense” to varying degrees. In Europe, for example, Germany, the United Kingdom, but also Slovenia and France are leading the way. The decision to opt for more environmentally friendly systems is based on a combination of the conviction to contribute to the protection of the climate and the earth, the available financial resources and, last but not least, the political will to promote such solutions. The EU also plays an important role here, with major funding programs that address this issue. I believe that future programs will also promote corresponding technology initiatives.
“At Vincorion, we have made a conscious decision to play a pioneering role in the field of green defense.”
How do you assess the competitive situation in this market? Are there several companies here that pursue similar approaches to Vincorion?
Yes, definitely. I think we are in good company on the market for “green defense”. There are many different systems with similar technological approaches. What needs to be improved, however, is the advertising for this area. At Vincorion, we have made a conscious decision to play a pioneering role in the field of green defense. Accordingly, we are also promoting the importance of this topic in the political arena. I would like our industrial partners to do the same. That would certainly help and further increase awareness of the topic.
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