German Air Force Chief Lt. Gen. Holger Neumann said at the show that he has asked the defense ministry to procure “fifth-gen-plus platforms beyond 2035,” adding: “I’m not saying the new system has to be ready [in 2035], but we have to pick up there.”
One option is for Germany to boost the number of F-35s in its fleet by buying 15 additional jets.
“The F-35 has a clear mission in nuclear sharing,” said Marie-Christine von Hahn, managing director of Germany’s aerospace and defense industry association BDLI. But she warned that the procurement should not distract policymakers from a larger challenge.
“Europe’s air forces need their own wings,” she said. “In Germany in particular, we must continue to be capable of developing, building, maintaining and upgrading combat aircraft ourselves.”
FCAS troubles
The fighter component of FCAS collapsed due to fights over control between the leading French and German companies involved in the project. Paris and Berlin also clashed over the role of the fighter, with France pushing for a lighter jet able to land on its aircraft carrier while Germany wanted a heavier one for air-superiority roles.
Germany is also looking at the U.K.-Italian-Japanese Global Combat Air Programme, although the current members are not keen on expanding the number of partners.