The federal government wants the Air Force with the US stealth jet F-35 equip. The machines from the manufacturer Lockheed Martin should according to information from Süddeutsche Zeitung as the successor to the model introduced more than 40 years ago tornado-Fleet to be procured. The dpa news agency first reported, citing government circles. the F-35 is considered the most modern combat aircraft in the world.
The jet is also being bought for Germany’s so-called nuclear sharing, a NATO deterrent concept that gives allies access to US nuclear bombs. Due to a special shape and outer coating, the machine is difficult for enemy radar to detect.
According to dpa information, it is planned to buy up to 35 of the stealth jets. The one that has been used so far and can only be kept operational with increasing effort tornado has also been used in the Bundeswehr for electronic air combat – disrupting, suppressing and attacking enemy air defense positions. According to information from the German Press Agency, more are to be used for this task Eurofighter be bought – according to the status of the project 15 pieces.
Scholz indicated the move to the “F-35” two weeks ago
However, the manufacturer Airbus still has to technically equip these in the coming years, which is considered to be extremely demanding. Earlier plans by the Department of Defense called for the US aircraft F/A-18 to buy something that would first have to be certified for use with nuclear weapons. After a conversation between Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht and Chancellor Olaf Scholz in January (both SPD), a broader inspection order was issued. The F-35 taken into consideration. It is already certified for nuclear weapons and has limited electronic combat equipment. Earlier concerns of the federal government, the purchase of the F-35 could counteract the joint plans with France for the construction of a European “combat aircraft of the future” (FCAS/Future Combat Air System), according to dpa, have now receded into the background and, from Berlin’s point of view, seem largely invalidated.
In response to the Ukraine war and Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin’s threats against the West, Chancellor Scholz announced a one-off “special fund” of 100 billion euros and a significant increase in annual defense spending. In the future, more than two percent of the gross domestic product is to be invested in defense every year. Scholz had announced that Germany’s nuclear sharing would need a “modern replacement for the outdated tornado-Jets” should be procured. The F-35 come into consideration as a carrier aircraft.
At the end of February, the chairwoman of the defense committee, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, demanded: “The first step today is the tornado-Succession on the table. Now she has to F-35 The war in Ukraine clearly shows that “attacks are carried out from the air and must be answered or prevented accordingly”.
In the case of F-35 It was recently pointed out that NATO partners in Europe also use the machine and that “synergy effects” are possible in operation. The parties of the traffic light coalition had to procure one tornado-Successor model already agreed in the coalition agreement. “We’re going to have a successor system to the fighter jet early in the 20th legislature tornado procure. We will objectively and conscientiously accompany the procurement and certification process with a view to Germany’s nuclear participation,” said the SPD, Greens and FDP.