Germany overcomes one of the last barriers to the purchase of new combat aircraft: the budget committee of the German parliament agreed to spend up to 5,5 billion euros for the acquisition of a batch of 38 new Eurofighter Typhoon fighters. Now it's up to parliament.
As Europaeische Sichercheit und Technik explains, it's about buying 26 single and 7 combat training vehicles as part of the basic order, five more standard Eurofighters can be purchased as an option. Aircraft should receive a radar with AFAR E-Scan Mk 1. Delivery of the first machine is expected in 2023/24 year.
At the same time, the needs of the German Air Force are much wider.. The decision to purchase a new batch of Eurofighters was a compromise result of an interagency struggle. Berlin urgently needs to find successors for aging Tornado machines.
According to IISS-2020, in service with the German Air Force is 140 Eurofighter Typhoon, 68 Tornado IDS and 20 Tornado ECR. In June 2020 year, an agreement was signed on the modernization 110 Typhoon in order to equip them with radar with AFAR. As expected, the radar "will provide a significant increase in reconnaissance and combat capabilities and will enable electronic warfare".
Against the backdrop of the need for additional purchases, there is a sharp political struggle around "investment". The Ministry of Defense advocates the acquisition of American F / A-18 Super Hornets fighters (30 u) и E/A-18G Growlers (15 u). However, the idea of purchasing equipment from its own manufacturer enjoys wide support in the country..
