Germany declares preference for F-35

[eagle driver]

Germany declares preference for F-35 to replace Tornado

Gareth Jennings
IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly

08 November 2017

The German Air Force has a shortlist of existing platforms to replace its Panavia Tornados from 2025 to 2030, but the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is the service’s “preferred choice,” a senior service official said on 8 November.

Speaking under the Chatham House Rule, the official said that the F-35 already fulfils most of the requirements that the Luftwaffe requires to replace its Tornados in the 2025 to 2030 timeframe, and that it offers a number of other benefits besides.

“The Tornado replacement needs to be fifth-generation aircraft that can be detected as late as possible, if at all. It must be able to identify targets from a long way off and to target them as soon as possible.

“The German Ministry of Defence is looking at several aircraft today, including the F-35 – it is commercially available already, has been ordered by many nations and is being introduced into service today, and has most of the capabilities required.”

Germany had previously engaged Airbus Defence and Space in defining the requirements for a future Tornado replacement under its Future Combat Air System programme. However, the timelines involved of an anticipated retirement of the Tornado in about 2030 has caused the Luftwaffe to look instead at an already-developed platform. As the official explained, “The timeframe suggests we need to start introducing successor in about 2025 to cover the Tornado retirement in 2030 – we need a five-year transition phase. That is only seven years away and so it is very unlikely that industry could develop and introduce an entirely new aircraft type that fulfils the functionalities that we require. History show that the Eurofighter took 25 years before the first aircraft was introduced.”

[PR9]

So much for the news that France/German were partnering on a new fighter.

Bet they end up with 2nd hand Super Hornets when they see the cost of "Dave".

[SG1]

Germany declares preference for F-35 to replace Tornado

Gareth Jennings
IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly

08 November 2017

The German Air Force has a shortlist of existing platforms to replace its Panavia Tornados from 2025 to 2030, but the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is the service’s “preferred choice,” a senior service official said on 8 November.

History show that the Eurofighter took 25 years before the first aircraft was introduced.”

How do you get 25 years for Typhoon, first fuselage sections mated in 1989, first prototype flight 1994, in service 2003. that's 14 years?

[igorski]

25 Years is way out. EAP had't even flown 25 years before Typhoon was in service.

[Tally-ho]

So, the Germans have woken up and smelt the coffee - better late than never I suppose.

Lesson 1:- The USA has the technological edge, the financial muscle, the sheer manpower (scientists, engineers and top-end technicians) to do this kind of thing in the 21st century.

Lesson 2:- The Germans, or any other NATO Air Force, that is serious about their own national Air Force, cannot develop or manufacture a front-line fighter unless there is participation between three or more partners - money money money! Or did they (the Germans) think they were going to free-load on the back of US air power as they have been for far too long?!

Lesson 3:- LOGISTICS - the more NATO Air Forces that acquire the F-35 the more easier everything becomes re maintenance, spares availability, percentage of operable and available aircraft. Battle readiness.

Tornado and Eurofighter Typhoon had multiple partners in development and manufacture, the RAF and the Italian Air Force signed for the F-35 long ago, which left the Germans and French isolated. I hope the Germans pay top dollar for their F-35's, if this goes ahead.

Make them pay Mr President, and it does not have to be in money alone.

[slogen51]

I rather someone purchased something different such as super Hornets just for something different to look at!

The F-35 is optimised for stealth but advances in radar technology in the next 10 years could negate that advantage and then what are you left with? Still a very capable fighter sure, but not that much more manoeuvrable than a F-16 for 10 times the price.

Much rather have 35 super Hornets than 20 F-35s especially as most areas of conflict are in areas of uncontested airspace such as Iraq , Syria. I am assuming we won't be declaring war on Russia this century.

[the concerned]

The aircraft that France and Germany are looking to develop is to replace the typhoons not tornados. With both the UK and Italy replacing there tornados with jsf's it made sense to buy now as that would have left Germany as sole European operator. As for the so-called alternative options please give me a break all of them will be nearly out of production within the next 5yrs. Buying a fighter that's about to stop being made is the stupidest idea ever plus by the time Germany gets to order the f-35 it will be cheaper the Rafael and typhoon.

[SG1]

25 Years is way out. EAP had't even flown 25 years before Typhoon was in service.

Plus the fact the EAP was not some sort of prototype for Typhoon, the book E.A.P. by Allan Seabridge & Leon Skorczewski will tell you all you need to know about the demonstrator.