Posted on 03/14/2022 1:05:46 AM PDT by fluorescence
Germany is reportedly planning to equip its air force with US-built F-35 stealth military jets. Berlin has previously announced that it will invest more in defense in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Germany has decided in principle to purchase the U.S. fighter jet F-35 built by Lockheed Martin to replace its aging Tornado fleet, according to reports on Monday.
The decision, if confirmed, comes after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz last month announced a massive boost in defense spending as the Ukraine conflict forces Berlin to reassess its foreign and defense policies. Why does Germany need the planes?
Berlin is reportedly seeking to use the Lockheed Martin planes to replace the country's Tornado fleet, introduced more than 40 years ago.
In light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Scholz said he would bring the nation's investments above a key NATO commitment 2% of GDP.
The F-35 is considered the world's most modern combat aircraft. Its unique shape and outer coating, make the jet difficult for enemy radar to detect.
At present, the Tornado is the only German jet capable of carrying US nuclear bombs, stored in Germany, in case of a conflict. However, the German airforce has been flying those planes since the 1980s, and they are due to be phased out between 2025 and 2030.
Announcing an increase in military spending, Chancellor Scholz said the German army would receive €100 billion ($113 billion) for investments and armament projects.
Germany reportedly plans to buy up to 35 of the planes.
Concerns had previously arisen that buying the F-35 aircraft could scupper joint plans with France to build a joint European combat aircraft.
To hell with the GDR, and to hell with Europe!
Bkmrk
Wow. Didn’t the Eurofighter (Typhoon) and the F-35 begin development at roughly the same time?
I'm old enough to recall when the WaPo suggested the M1, Bradley, and F16 were junk. They all had a number of teething problems.
One of the biggest issues I thought about was the lack of suitable munitions for stowage inside the stealth body. That is being remedied with multiple smaller and self guiding bombs I believe.
What is amusing are the number of people who keep insisting the F-35 is useless junk. Here are all the countries who have purchased it.
USA
Italy
Japan
South Korea
Australia
Denmark
Netherlands
Norway
UK
Israel
Belgium
Poland
Finland
Singapore
Every single one of those countries conducted an extensive competition where they compared other available fighters. Those fighters include the Rafael, the Eurofighter, the Gripen, various upgrades to F-15s, 16s and 18s, and fourth and fifth generation fighters from Russia and China.
All settled on the F-35. So either all the experts in all those countries that actually test flew and evaluated the best fighter aircraft currently available are idiots, or the blowhard “experts” on internet sites like FreeRepublic know something they don’t. I currently fly with guys who have flown the F-35. They love it. Most also flew other fighter types as well. I think I’ll take the words of actual experts with respect to the capabilities of the F-35.
My son-in-law worked on the F-35 at Rolls Royce.
It’s a bit fussy (as all complex machines are today) but impressive.
That was one trashy guy. He was one of the rare ones in the Luftwaffe that was a committed nazi. Till the end of his life he loved Hitler.
Business partner of Klaus Barbie, Peronist, helped Dr. Mengele escape.
That is not someone to admire.
35 F-35’s is not really very many. And, we can stipulate controls on resales, etc.
Now, if Germany committed to buying 350, that might raise my eyebrow a la Mr. Spock.
Helluva a Stuka pilot though!
Does the F 35 work yet?
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