Luftwaffe F 35 - After weighing up the Eurofighter Typhoon and Super Hornet options, the F-35 was chosen as Germany's next nuclear-powered fighter.
After a seemingly never-ending situation "They'll do it or they won't." Germany eventually decided to buy F-35A stealth fighters as a way to equip its military with a new generation of fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Today's official announcement puts an end to years of speculation about how Berlin will choose to replace its aging Tornado IDS attack squadron, which among them has been a mix of the Eurofighter Typhoon, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. , EA-18G Growler and F-35 are on the table at some point.
Luftwaffe F 35
A tweet from the German Ministry of Defense confirms that according to news outlets earlier today, the F-35 will receive:
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“A successor to the Tornado has been decided: with the F-35 aircraft type, missions in nuclear power sharing will be guaranteed in the future. The goal is to replace tornadoes by 2030.
German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht added: "The F-35 presents a unique potential for cooperation with NATO allies and other allies in Europe."
The German Ministry of Defense did not immediately disclose how many F-35s it would purchase and their associated costs. But previous reports put the number of planes at 35. They would meet Germany's requirements for aircraft capable of delivering nuclear gravity to the United States. Exploding under the longstanding NATO agreement
The American B61 gravity nuclear bomb is stored at the Büshel airbase in Germany. These bombs could also be used by American officials in other NATO bases for use by German crews in times of crisis. The Luftwaffe Tornado is now certified to carry these weapons. And testing has already been done to support the integration of the newest B61-12 into these aircraft. In the future, the F-35A will also be able to use the B61-12. These bombing operations can be carried out before the end of the year.
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However, there is some good news for the Eurofighter. which is a potential competitor to the F-35 in the nuclear strike role. The Ministry of Defense announced that In addition to being retained as part of the Luftwaffe alongside the F-35, the Eurofighter will also be A total of 15 Eurofighter ECRs will be purchased.
These additional Eurofighters will be a successor to the Tornado ECR currently used to suppress enemy air defenses. At the same time, it ensures that core technologies continue to be developed in Germany and across Europe, which should "ensure a strong German role in future FCAS" — referring to the next-generation fighter programme. Operated by France, Germany and Spain
FCAS references seem at least in part to be aimed at France. There are concerns that Germany's purchase of the F-35 will jeopardize the prospects of joining Europe's next-generation fighter in the 2040s as part of a broader programme.
The concept for the planned next-generation fighter jet, or NGF, is at the heart of FCAS across Europe. Dassault Aviation
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Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerharz, Commander of the Air Force, said: “With the F-35 and the further development of the Eurofighter in electronic warfare. The army is in a very good position for the future.”
The decision to buy the F-35 is the first major arms purchase under Prime Minister Olaf Scholz's new coalition government following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The German leader has promised to increase defense spending to the 2% target set by NATO. which Berlin has always failed in the past
Front: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits a memorial for German Bundeswehr soldiers near Berlin. Germany, March 4, 2022. AP Photo/Michael Sohn.
The decision to join Europe's rapidly growing F-35 operating base is also important. Examples of stealth jets are already visible as part of NATO's forward presence. which has been strengthened to counter Russian aggression
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Beyond NATO, European F-35 orders continue to grow. Switzerland and Finland chose to buy the aircraft last year.
As recently as October 2017, a "senior official" said the F-35 was the "preferred option" to replace the Tornado, just months after the Luftwaffe had been briefed on the Joint Strike Fighter as part of a "continuation of the war". of the plan
However, in April 2018, German officials asked the Americans if it was possible to convert the Eurofighter into a nuclear attack aircraft. at the same time German legislators begin rallying around European fighters It highlights the importance of maintaining military experience in aircraft in Germany and Europe.
A month later, Lt. Gen. Karl Müllner, the former Luftwaffe commander, was forced to retire over his support of the F-35 variants, although it is unclear whether it was due to his preference for the aircraft itself or the public. Opinions about it
Lockheed Martin F 35
By March 2020, Germany appears to be purchasing Eurofighter fighters and the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G separately to meet Tornado replacement needs. required for the ability to deliver nuclear weapons And this aircraft modification was considered less complicated than required for the Eurofighter.
However, officials still seem to favor the finished fifth-generation fighter jets. As a result, the final choice will inevitably fall on the F-35.
The F-35 was well established in production. And Germany is likely to benefit from expanding European infrastructure to accommodate the aircraft. This includes an engine testing and maintenance facility in the Netherlands. and the Final Assembly and Inspection Plant (FACO) in Italy, which also builds jets for the Dutch.
The need to replace the tornado is also evident. Especially as these aircraft have experienced widespread availability more than once in the past. The final Tornado is due to be retired by 2030, although it is currently unclear when the first German F-35s will be delivered or when they will be operational.
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An ECR tornado leaves Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, during the 2020 Bundeswehr/Ingo Tesche Red Flag Exercise.
Today's announcement is geared towards replacing the Tornado fleet. Focusing on critical nuclear strikes and SEAD roles, a total of 50 aircraft, however, Germany has in the past announced that it will acquire a total of 85 new aircraft to replace the Tornado. as already mentioned Orders may follow for more Eurofighter or F-35 fighters to accomplish this plan.
Overall, the decision to buy an F-35 is an important one. It shows a renewed willingness of the German army to spend on modernization and improving combat readiness after years of decline since the end of the Cold War.
It is worth noting that the decision was made during the fierce fighting in Ukraine. But the German Ministry of Defense has made it clear that they were acquired primarily for the nuclear attack role. Although this could be interpreted, Luftwaffe concluded that the Eurofighter or Super Hornet were not considered nearly viable for this mission. But it maintains that Berlin still sees nuclear delivery capabilities as a key tool in deterring Russia's increasingly aggressive foreign policy in Europe. The German Army (GAF) is set to replace its aging Tornado IDS/ECR fleet with the F-35A Lightning II. Approximately 35 Lockheed Martin F-35As are expected to be purchased to continue the Taktisches Panavia Tornado IDS nuclear mission. Luftwaffengeschwader 33 (TLG33) at Büchel
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The new version of the Eurofighter Typhoon Electronic Combat will replace the Panavia Tornado ECR of the Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 (TLG51) in Schleswig. It will reportedly receive 15 new variants that are still being developed. The decision to purchase the F-35A was officially announced on 14 March 2022 via a tweet from the German Ministry of Defense:
“A decision has been made on the successor of the Tornado: with the F-35 aircraft type, missions to share nuclear energy will be guaranteed in the future. The goal is to replace tornadoes by 2030.
Lieutenant General Ingo Gerharz, Commander-in-Chief of the German Air Force said: “With the F-35 and the Eurofighter's further development in electronic warfare. The army is in a very good position for the future.”
It was the first major arms purchase under Prime Minister Olaf Scholz's new coalition government following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Germany says it will increase defense spending It also put an end to years of uncertainty about how Luftwaffe will continue to replace its aging Tornado ID fleet. in some period The Luftwaffe chief's staunch support for the F-35 is at odds with current Pentagon plans. It supports legacy solutions related to Eurofighter Typhoon.
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Jane's said German Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Karl Müllner would
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