[Skybird]

Suddenly it goes quickly: Germany plans to buy up to 35 F-35 that will replace its fleet of 80+ aging Tornados. Both planes are certified to carry American nuclear bombs of which 20 should be stored in Germany (Büchel, Eiffel: it never was confirmed, but is an open secret). Arolund 15 Europfioghters will also be reequipped for specialised roles for the ELOKA role (wild weasle and such)

The F-35 was thougth about before, but France did not like the idea, and so the Germans fell back formt he idea...

Currently the plane costs 80-85 million per piece. Maintenance is done by American technics crews exclusively, so in a way new dependencies are being accepted here. I did not know this detial, and I don't like it. Sounds like the planes are not being bought, but leased only, and German pilots are only cab drivers for a foreign company. It also means that German poltical deciisons can in principle not made against the cooperation of Lockheed Martin, and Lockheed Martin obeys American law makers.

Yes, it means an increasing of dependency.

But there is no alternative, apparently. The planned joint program for a German-French-European fighterbomber is still many, many, many years away: way too long. And it is unclear whether the Americans would license them for carrying US nukes. They have endlessly delayed the certification of the German Eurofighter for the same purpose, so to force the Germans to buy Americna planes instead, although the German Eurofighters in principle can carry these bombs. The Ukriane war now has taught the "stubborn Germans" an lesson that American pressure so far failed to teach.

One thing is clear: a greater independence of Europe from the US will not be reached this way.

Several other European nations have ordered the F-35 as well.

I can live wiht the plane. The political implications I like much less, but I think we must be pragmatic due to our current obvious weaknesses.

Tante Käthe in the defence kitchen announced some days ago that less still to be developed super-individual platform and weapon project designs should be used to emergency-fast-equip the Bundeswehr, but more already existing ready-to-use solutions for the shelves should be bought instead.

Germany also gets P-8 submarine hunters from the US.


Since long it is rumoured that a replacement for the Leopard-2 should be done, too. The Russian Armata T-14 MBT realyl rang some alarm bells, reminds me a bit of the T-72 with its firepower showing up and equalizing the superiority of the fast, agile Leopard-1. The German-American cooperation on a joint MBT had broken up already before, but the Leopard-2 can be seen as a reply to the T-72. The Armata's design has some revolutionary features. Teething problems and the Ukraine war I think better should nobody fool about the Armata's qualities.