Posted on 12/11/2017 8:14:46 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
BERLIN (Reuters) - The German Defence Ministry said on Monday that the European fighter jet was the leading candidate to replace its Tornado jets, which it wants to start phasing out in 2025.
The ministry’s position appears to contradict that of the German air force, whose chief indicated last month that he preferred Lockheed Martin’s F-35, which meets the military’s requirements of stealth and long-distance operational capabilities.
In a letter to a Greens lawmaker who had inquired about the deliberations, the ministry said the F-35 and Boeing’s F-15 and F-18 fighters were secondary options.
“The indicated view of the inspector of the air force that the F-35 Lightning II is an especially suitable successor to the Tornado system is not the position of the federal government,” Deputy Defence Minister Ralf Brauksiepe wrote in the letter.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a joint project between British defense group BAE, France’s Airbus and Italy’s Finmeccanica.
The ministry’s preference for the Typhoon is no surprise; France and Germany said earlier this year they would work together to develop a new European fighter, as they expand cooperation on defense and security [nL8N1K43JS].
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
Why does Germany need fighter planes at all? Seriously...why?
Escort bombers to Warsaw?
“Escort bombers to Warsaw?”
More likely escort diplomats to Mecca!
Is that before or after they annex the Sudetenland?
The S-400 can see that bird from hundreds of miles away, and kill it with ease.
If Germany goes with a 4th Generation fighter, they will regret it one day.
Man Russia’s going to mop the floor with the EU if they ever get into a shooting war.
I’m not so sure radar technology will be able to keep up with anti-radar measures. So, if not, then the Eurofighter is a good choice. On the other hand, perhaps radar technology outstrips stealth technologies. If so, the F-35 is an expensive and vulnerable target.
This race of technology is a race that effects basic military strategy, military procurement strategies, and the lives of the pilots and crew on the pointy end of the spear.
There isn’t the slightest chance stealth can outpace radar. Radar easily increases, almost constantly, along with the exponential increase in computing power. Stealth airframes lock in technology for a few decades at a time at great expense.
It’s a losing game to buy stealth aircraft thinking you can outpace radars. The result is that you are married to airframes that quickly are obsolete.
this certainly isn’t the way it has played out so far.
“On the other hand, perhaps radar technology outstrips stealth technologies. “
So far it has not. Would Russia and China be investing 10s of billions to obtain it if it did not work?
Where do you place your bet?
“Stealth” is not the only anti-radar technology. Active “spoofing” is already in place in some Russian airframes and some of our allies use it to advantage. It is a concern to the Pentagon because spoofing already is showing great potential.
there is no way any great power is going to order the F-35
except perhaps the poodles
They have maybe 10% of Luftwaffe in flying condition. The rest is in a different stages of cannibalization. That includes rather modern airframes. New procurement is purely political. With current policy in place new fighters would be unusable is a few years.
Define "great power".
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
