a minute agoGermany takes it seriously, buys American fighter F-35s
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)Germany plans to buy about 35 American combat aircraft of the F-35 model and 15 Eurofly type aircraft, a German parliament source said on Monday. The Berlin decision is part of a major effort to modernise the armed forces in response to Russian intervention in Ukraine. Fighters of the model [...]
Fighters F-35 model aircraft, produced by the American company Lockheed Martin, would help replace the several dozen-year-old German fleets of Tornado model aircraft, according to the press report confirmed by the source, reports VOA.
Tornado model planes are the only fighter aircraft capable of carrying American nuclear bombs stationed in the German and are an essential part of NATO for the prevention of conflict.
American F-35 aircraft are considered the most modern fighter aircraft in the world. Their unique form and outer layer make their discovery from enemy radar very difficult.
Other Eurofly model planes, which Germany plans to buy, built by a group that includes the European corporation Airbus, will reportedly be used for other operations, including electronic warfare and association missions.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged last month to invest $112 billion in the country's military, which has not been financed enough for years.
The increase in expenditures marks a major change in Europe's largest economy, changing its policy of low military profile, in part from Germany's sense of guilt for World War II.
After years of criticism, that Germany was not carrying a sufficient financial burden in NATO's military alliance, Chancellor Scholz also pledged to spend more than 2% of gross domestic defence production annually, exceeding NATO's goal.
The German change of position was prompted by the return of the war on the European continent following Russian intervention in Ukraine on February 24th, disturbing Berlin's security and exposing the German armed forces' situation.
But buying American fighter F-35s raises points about the future of a joint European plane Berlin is developing in co-operation with Spain and France.
Known as “Future War Service” [Future Air System (FCAS)], the aircraft is scheduled to replace France's Rafale model aircraft by 2040, and German and French Eurolighter model aircraft.
Late last month, Chancellor Scholz tried to ease fears that the project could become unnecessary, saying the joint European project had a “absolute advantage”.
It is important for me to build the next generation of fighter aircraft and tanks in co-operation with European partners”, he said. But the German Armed Forces, known as Bundeswehr, must quickly replace the Tornado model fleet because it is outdated, Chancellor Scholz added.
