The German Air Force (Luftwaffe) is to receive 38 new Eurofighter type fighter jets: The budget committee of the German Bundestag has now released 5.5 billion euros for this at its meeting on November 5th. In addition to the fighter jets, it is planned to purchase spare parts as well as ground service test equipment and special tools (BPS). This is intended to increase the availability of spare parts and increase the operational readiness of the aircraft. The plan is to deliver the new jets by 2025. The German Air Force is to receive the last aircraft in this tranche in 2030. It is a decisive step towards meeting Germany’s obligations to NATO.
The procurement project of the fourth Tranche, also known under the name Project Quadriga, will gradually replace the Eurofighters of the first (Tranche 1) production lot, which were procured between 2003 and 2008. Since the Tranche 1 aircraft can only be used for aerial combat and spare parts are often outdated, this first series should be replaced. In addition, major replacement and exchange parts for Tranche 1 are no longer manufactured. In the medium term, this would have meant that the jets would have been extensively and costly overhauled. With the new 38 aircraft, the Eurofighter fleet will in future have a uniform and more flexible range of capabilities.
The new Eurofighters will be equipped with a modern E-scan radar. This will enable pilots to better discover and track air-to-air and air-to-ground targets. This is also possible for several targets simultaneously, and independently of one another. In addition, the radar has a higher immunity to countermeasures and interference. The Eurofighter is the mainstay of the German combat aircraft squadrons. The twin-engined jets thus represent essential capabilities of the Bundeswehr to secure German airspace and to fight opponents on the ground and in the air. This modern weapon system is suitable for use in air defense as well as for air strikes.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter. The Typhoon was designed originally as an air superiority fighter and is manufactured by a consortium of Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo that conducts the majority of the project through a joint holding company, Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH. NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency manages the project and is the prime customer. Later production aircraft have been increasingly better equipped to undertake air-to-surface strike missions and to be compatible with an increasing number of different armaments and equipment, including Storm Shadow and Brimstone missiles.
