Status: 12/05/2022 4:41 p.m
It’s jerky again in a Bundeswehr project. This time it’s about the procurement of F-35 jets from the USA. The nervousness is growing in the traffic light factions, the ministry calms them down.
“The deadliest fighter jet”: This is how the US manufacturer Lockheed Martin praises the F-35 fighter jet. The stealth bomber offers pilots a decisive advantage over any opponent. In fact, the F-35 is currently considered the most modern combat aircraft in the world. The Bundeswehr is to receive 35 jets of this type so that the aging Tornado fleet can be replaced. But once again a large procurement project produces negative headlines.
This is about one of the biggest chunks in the 100 billion program for the Bundeswehr. According to the current status, the federal government estimates the costs at almost ten billion euros.
However, the Ministry of Defense considers it possible that the project will end up being even more expensive – among other things because of the high inflation and necessary conversion work at the Büchel air base in Rhineland-Palatinate. This emerges from a template from the Federal Ministry of Finance ARD Capital Studio present.
Important information only after conclusion of contract
The F-35 jets are to be stationed in Büchel. Flight operation areas and technical facilities would have to be renovated for this, according to Berlin. The problem: The US government only makes important documents and information available once the supply contract has been concluded with the German side.
A “timely implementation” of the infrastructure measures is therefore “highly ambitious,” writes the Ministry of Finance, citing the defense department. In addition, there is a risk that the US bombers will not receive the necessary approval for German airspace in good time.
A further complication is that all of this will become known shortly before the planned conclusion of the billion-dollar deal. The contract is expected to be finalized this month. The first eight aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2026.
Pressure on Lambrecht grows
Once again, Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) is being criticized – and her announcement policy: “That’s what happens when you sell things that aren’t done yet,” says CSU MP Florian Hahn ARD Capital Studio. “So that’s not going to happen with the turning point,” said the defense policy spokesman for the Union faction. From his point of view, it is time “that the minister is replaced”.
The proposal for the F-35 also caused unrest in the government camp. She’s “very worried,” says Sara Nanni from the Greens ARD Capital Studio. The defense politician fears that the problems with infrastructure and certification could have consequences for the commissioning of the F-35 jets.
The Greens had raised the certification issues months ago, but the Department of Defense downplayed the issue, Nanni said. The deputy calls it irritating that the ministry is only now taking up the problem.
Lambrecht spokesman: “No crisis”
The Department of Defense tries its hand at damage control. “There is no crisis,” says a ministry spokesman. There is currently no problem with the planning or with the infrastructure – on the contrary: the project is “clearly on the right track”.
One only looked at what possible risks could arise with the F-35 procurement according to the current status. However, that does not mean that there are “materialized risks”. That means: Additional costs and delays are possible, but by no means a foregone conclusion.
Will this line of argument convince the householders of the traffic light factions? In the afternoon, ministry representatives and MPs got together. The defense department doesn’t want to hear about a crisis meeting, but there is considerable resentment among the ranks of budget politicians in the coalition.
FDP: Lambrecht on duty
“Today we made it clear once again that the F-35 is a top-priority project and requires the minister’s full attention,” said FDP MP Karsten Klein after the meeting. This was accompanied by “considerable investments” – and in the event of delays, “considerable follow-up costs”.
Klein reminds us that in the future the F-35 jets should guarantee nothing less than Germany’s so-called nuclear sharing. This means that in an emergency, the bombers must be able to target American nuclear weapons.
It is not yet clear whether the fears will come true. But one thing is already certain: With its warning shortly before the desired conclusion of the contract, the Ministry of Defense itself has unleashed a wave that it must now break with all its might. Which raises the question of how this renewed breakdown in communication could have come about – just a few days after the argument about the lack of ammunition had just died down. Should the risks of the F-35 deal “materialize” after all, things could get tight for Lambrecht.