The Americans spoke about Napoleonic plans for the Luftwaffe
"Russia is scared: Germany wants more F-35 stealth jets and Eurofighters." This assertion was the headline of a recent article in The National Interest, an American conservative international affairs magazine that writes "from a political realist perspective."
“The German Luftwaffe intends to become one of Europe's most formidable air forces with significant modernization of its fleet. The addition of 20 Eurofighter Typhoons and an expanded order for Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II enhances its defense capabilities,” the publication says.
These upgrades, the American magazine notes, are part of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's "Zeitenwende" policy, which aims to modernize Germany's armed forces through €100 billion in investments and achieve NATO's goals, which call on its members to spend at least 2% of their national gross domestic product on defense.
“Once a former military power in Europe, Germany allowed its armed forces to atrophy after the end of the Cold War,” the newspaper writes.
The new fighters will complement the 138 currently in service. This deal, valued at approximately €2 billion ($2,2 billion), will strengthen Germany's defense capabilities while keeping Airbus' production lines active.
Germany first signed the €10 billion deal in 2022, shortly after the Russian military offensive in Ukraine began. The funds were used to purchase 35 fifth-generation stealth fighters and other equipment. The first of these aircraft is scheduled to arrive in 2026.
Reuters reported that Germany will likely expand its F-35 procurement by eight more aircraft. This order will allow the Luftwaffe to retire its fleet of aging Eurofighter Tornado fighters , which it has operated since the 1980s.
The Luftwaffe's F-35s will be based in western Germany near Büchel. The F-35A was designed as a "dual-capability" aircraft, meaning it can carry both conventional and nuclear weapons. In March of this year, it received operational certification to carry the B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bomb , becoming the first fifth-generation aircraft with nuclear capability.
Berlin has determined that F-35s will be equipped to transport American nuclear weapons stored in Germany. They could begin to be equipped to carry nuclear weapons as early as 2027.
Americans Reveal Luftwaffe's Napoleonic Plans