List of active equipment of the German Air Force

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This list intends to give an accurate detail list of the equipment currently fielded by the German Air Force.

Current inventory[edit]

Aircraft Origin Image Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
Eurofighter Typhoon  Germany

 Italy

 Spain

 UK

Interceptor T1 33
Swingrole T2 79
Swingrole T3 31
Panavia Tornado  Germany

 Italy

 UK

multirole IDS 68 [1]
Panavia Tornado  Germany

 Italy

 UK

SEAD / ECR (Electronic Combat Reconnaissance) ECR 21 [1]
Military Transport / Aerial refueling
Airbus A400M  Europe tactical airlifter / aerial refueling A400M 40 13 additional still on order[2]
Lockheed Martin C-130J  United States tactical airlifter C-130J-30 3 [3]
 United States tactical airlifter / aerial refueling KC-130J-30 3 [4]
Helicopter
Airbus Helicopters H145  Germany light utility H145M 15 German Air Force as a special forces transport helicopter and has been configured to support their missions both during the day and night.

Flown by Special Forces Command [1]

Eurocopter AS532  France VIP transport AS532 U2 3 [5]
Sikorsky CH-53  United States transport CH-53G 66 [6]
Trainer aircraft
Grob G 120  Germany basic trainer G 120A / G 120TP 6 / 5 [7] / [7]
Northrop T-38  United States jet trainer T-38C [8]
UAVs
IAI Heron  Israel surveillance Heron 1 5[9] to be replaced by Heron TP[9]
IAI Heron  Israel surveillance and combat Heron TP (Eitan) 5[9] 5 on order[9]
"White Fleet"
Airbus A319  Europe VIP transport A319CJ 2 Passenger and material transport, strategic patient air transport or flights within the framework of arms control[5]
Open Skies A319OH 1 The new observation platform OH ("Offener Himmel" = "Open Sky") is equipped with electro-optical sensors, an EO-S/digital camera and an infrared sensor (IR-S) based on an A319CJ from Lufthansa Technik.[10]
Airbus A321  Europe VIP, troops transport A321-200 1 [5]
Airbus A321neo  Europe Transport and

MEDEVAC

A321LR 2 [11]
Airbus A350  Europe VIP, troops transport ACJ350 3 [12][13]
Bombardier Global 5000 Canada Canada VIP transport Global 5000 3 [5]
Bombardier Global 6000 Canada Canada VIP transport Global 6000 3 [14][15][5]

Collaborations with German Air Force Participation[edit]

Aircraft Origin Operator Image Type Variant In service Notes
Airbus A330  Europe MMF

(Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet)

Belgium Belgium

Czech Republic Czechia

Germany Germany

Luxembourg Luxembourg

Netherlands Netherlands

Norway Norway

Tanker

Cargo transport

Passenger transport

Medical evacuation

A330 MRTT 7 3 on order, the last one to be delivered in 2026
Boeing E-3 Sentry  United States NAEW&CF program

(NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force)

 NATO

Belgium Belgium

Canada Canada

Czech Republic Czechia

Germany Germany

Greece Greece

Hungary Hungary  

Italy IItaly  

Luxembourg Luxembourg

Netherlands  Netherlands

Poland Poland

Portugal Portugal

Romania Romania

Turkey Turkey

United States USAF

Spain Spain

Norway Norway

Denmark Denmark

AEW&C

(Airborne early warning and control)

E-3A 14 18 aircraft used initially[1]
Northrop Grumman – RQ-4 Global Hawk  United States AGS

(Alliance Ground Surveillance)

 NATO

Bulgaria Bulgaria

Czech Republic Czechia

Estonia Estonia

Germany Germany

Italy IItaly  

Latvia Latvia

Lithuania Lithuania  

Luxembourg Luxembourg

Poland Poland

Romania Romania

Slovakia Slovakia

Slovenia Slovenia

United Kingdom UK

United States USAF

Norway Norway

Denmark Denmark

UAV HALE /

ISR /

Combat

RQ-4D Phoenix

(Block 40)

5

Note, NHV provides the H145 rotorcraft training[16][17]

Armament[edit]

Weapons and equipment used on each aircraft[edit]

Panavia Tornado IDS variant[edit]

The IDS standard variant is a strike aircraft. The Recce sub-variant can perform all tasks of the IDS, and is capable of performing reconnaissance missions with a pod. This variant has a modified cockpit cabling and a different cockpit display (ASSTA-1 modernisation).[18]

Tornado ECR[edit]

An electronic warfare and SEAD / DEAD aircraft [18].

Eurofighter T1[edit]

Eurofighter T2, T3 and T4[edit]

Complementary elements for some weapons[edit]

Conventional Guided bombs:

Air Defence Systems[edit]

Situation in April 2022[edit]

Model Image Origin Type Number Notes
MIM-104 Patriot

Mobile and Protected Signals Intelligence

 Germany

 United States

SAM 11 During Cold War, Germany had 36 Patriot systems in service.

In April 2023:

  • 11 systems in service[31]
  • 1 from the storage delivered to Ukraine in April 2023, PAC-3 variant[32]

The systems in service are upgraded to PAC-3 standard, and it is equipped with PAC-2 and PAC-3 CRI missiles in service. Germany has also PAC-3 MSE and PAC-2 GEM-T missiles on order. Among the systems in service:

  • 1 deployed in Slovakia since March 2022 to compensate for the transfer of the S300 air defense system to Ukraine.
  • 3 have been in Poland since January 2023 following the November 2022 missile explosion in Poland, at the border with Ukraine.

In April 2023, Germany announced its intention to remove its support by the end of the year. Some maintenance is required on those systems.[33]

The existing PAC2 missiles have a service life limited to 2030.[34]

Ozelot

LeFlaSys (leichtes Flugabwehrsystem)

FlaRaWaTrg:

AFF:

 Germany

 United States

Light SHORAD 67 vehicles System based on Wiesel 2 vehicles, composed of the variants:
  • 10 BF/UF ("FlaFührung"), platoon command posts
  • 7 AFF radar and fire control posts equipped with a 3D radar, a IFF system and a command system
  • 50 FlaRaWaTrg weapon carriers equipped with 3FIM-92 Stinger missiles (+ 4 in storage)

Operated by the 3rd Squadron of 61 Surface-to-Air Missile Group. A standard battery is made of

  • 1 AFF[35]
  • 1 BF/UF
  • 5–8 FlaRaWaTrg

Radar systems[edit]

Model Image Origin Type Quantity Notes
Ground Master 406F  France

 United States

Early Warning (EW) Radar /

AESA Radar

6 Modified variant of the GM400 for the German forces, for a fixed radar system.

Operated by the "Operational Command Service" of the Luftwaffe (EinsFüDstLw).

Manufactured by Thales Raytheon Systems.[36]

HADR NF  Germany

 Israel

3D radar /

Long range air surveillance /

Active Phased Array Radar

4
RRP 117  United States 3D radar /

Long range air surveillance /

Active Phased Array Radar

8 Under radome, in service since 1998
Selex RAT-31DL Italy Italy L-band solid state phased array /

3D surveillance radar

2 500 km range https://electronics.leonardo.com/en/products/rat-31dl
Hensoldt’s ASR-S

(Illustration image)

 Germany Airport surveillance radar 20 Radar used for:
  • approach control at the airfields
  • airspace surveillance in order to coordinate and integrate the military movements within the civilian traffic (100 km radius)[37]

Navigation equipment[edit]

Model Image Origin Type Quantity Notes
TACAN — Tactical air navigation — [38]

Future equipment for the German Air Force[edit]

Aircraft[edit]

List of new aircraft ordered[edit]

Aircraft Origin Image Type Variant Ordered Notes
Combat Aircraft
Eurofighter Typhoon  United Kingdom

 Germany

 Italy

 Spain

Swingrole T4 38 [39]
SEAD / ECR (Electronic Combat Reconnaissance) ECR 15 – 30 [40][41]
Lockheed Martin F-35  United States multirole / nuclear deterrent bomber F-35A 35 [42]

Purchased to continue German contribution to the Nuclear sharing B61-12

Helicopter
CH-47 Chinook  United States Heavy transport helicopter CH-47F Block II 60 [43]
H145  Germany Attack helicopter H145M 5 62 ordered by the German military, 5 for the Luftwaffe, 57 for the army. 20 additional ones are on option. [44]
UAVs
Eurodrone  France

 Germany

 Italy

 Spain

surveillance, reconnaissance and combat — 21 7 systems on contract with 21 drones for €3 billion[45][46]
SIGINT
Pegasus

Based on Bombardier Global 6000

Canada Canada Note: illustration image Surveillance Global 6000 3 Ordered in 2021, to enter service by 2025 and replace the Eurohawk[14][15][5]

Aircraft to be replaced[edit]

List of aircraft that are planned to be replaced in a near future for which the successor has not yet been selected.

Aircraft Origin Image Type Quantity Notes
Eurocopter AS532 U2  France VIP transport 3 €200 million budget for the replacement.

It is planned to be replaced from 2027 (after 30 years in service).[47]

Equipment for future German aircraft[edit]

F-35 (future equipment)[edit]

Future aircraft for the German Air Force, to take over the nuclear deterrence mission and to be used as a strike aircraft as well:[48]

Eurofighter ECR[edit]

Air defence of the German military[edit]

Purchases confirmed[edit]

System Program participants Image Origin Type Number Notes
SAM Systems
Arrow 3  Germany  Israel United States Anti-ballistic missile 3 The sale has been approved by Israel and the USA.

The contract cost is $3.5 billion and Germany already paid a $600 million initial payment[53][54]

MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3+

Part of the ESSI

 BEL

 BGR

 CZ

 EST

 FIN

 DE

 HUN

 LAT

 LIT

 NLD

 ROM

 SVK

 SLO

 SWE

 UK

 DNK

 NOR

 Germany

 United States

SAM /Anti-ballistic missile 4 Order of 4 batteries to Raytheon confirmed in March 2024, for $1.2 billion [55]

The contract includes the batteries, spare parts, and support services.

IRIS-T SL

Part of the ESSI

 Germany Tactical air defense system 6[56] The PAC-3 MSE missile is expected to be supplemented by IRIS-T SLM as secondary missile for ground-based medium range air defense. It is based on the IRIS-T air-to-air missile[57] equipped with an enlarged rocket motor, datalink, and jettisonable drag-reducing nose cone.[58]

The radar system expected is the Hensoldt TRML-4D, and it should be supported by the Integrated Battle Management Software Fire Control System (IBMS-FS) by Airbus.

Six batteries are purchased for €950 million and the delivery will start from 2024,[59] 8 in total are expected eventually.

SAM missiles
MIM-104 Patriot - PAC-2 GEM-T  Germany  Germany United States Surface-to-air missiles 100

(+ 400 on option)

Order confirmed for €602.1 million euros for the 100 missiles, replacement of the missiles transferred to Ukraine.

400 additional for €2.4 billion to be confirmed. Contract runs through 2024. The missiles will be assembled in Germany, and the main subcontractors will be MBDA, Bayern Chemie, TDW Gesellschaft für Wirksysteme, Sener Aerospacial and RTX. [60]

Air-to-air missiles
IRIS-T  Germany  Germany Air-to-air missiles 120

(+ 1,160 in option)

Ordered in December 2023. €108 million for the 120 first missiles in the LFK version (air-air). [61]

Potential future equipment[edit]

The equipment mentioned here is part of the program NNbS, ("Nah- und Nächstbereichs-schutz"), close air-support for the ground troops. At the moment, no decision has been made regarding the operator of those systems, it could go to the Bundeswehr or the Luftwaffe. In 2010, the German forces decided to retire the last 90 Flakpanzer Gepard. In 2012, the air defense of the Bundeswehr was completely disbanded. The Luftwaffe was to support the German forces with their Wiesel 2 Ozelot, and German soldiers had access to FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS.

This equipment described below is the most likely candidates that have been mentioned by the German military and by the German defence industry. More details can be found on the page "List of modern equipment of the German Army".

System Image Notes
AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) asked for the Congress approval of potentially USD $2.90 billion in military sales for the German Air Force on the 19th of July 2023.[62][63]

This sale would include:

  • 969 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM
  • ≤ 12 AMRAAM C8 guidance sections
  • AIM-120 Captive Air Training Missiles
  • Support equipment (telemetry kit and control section spares and containers, spare parts and support)
Brimstone 274 short-range effectors planned to be ordered in 2024 for the Eurofighter. [64]
IRIS-T SLS Mk III ARGE NNbS (joint venture including Diehl Defence, Rheinmetall Electronics and Hensoldt Sensors) offered the following solution for the "Surface-to-air missile / SHORAD" phase of the program:[65]
Skyranger 30

NNbS program (Nah- und Nächstbereichs-schutz)

Rheinmetall Air Defense offers this Boxer 8x8 equipped with an Oerlikon Skyranger 30 turret for the "SHORAD / C-RAM" phase of the program:[66]

Weapons:

Sensors

  • S-band AESA Multi-Mission Radar (AMMR) by Rheinmetall Italia
  • FIRST ("Fast Infrared search and track")
  • TREO compact target tracker (1 HD cooled MWIR thermal camera, 1 HD camera
  • two laser rangefinders, one for air targets one for land targets
Patriot system maintenance
  • 120 carrier vehicles to be ordered
  • 129 power systems [67]
Geostationary communications satellites — Procurement of 2 SATCOMBw Level 3 Initial Capability satellites [64]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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  2. ^ "15. Bericht des Bundesministeriums der Verteidigung zu Rüstungsangelegenheiten Teil 1" (PDF). BMVg. 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
  3. ^ "Germany's third C-130J delivered". scramble.nl. 2022-08-25. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  4. ^ ES&T Redaktion (2024-04-23). "Alle sechs deutschen Transportflugzeuge C-130J in Evreux". esut.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Die Flugbereitschaft des Bundesministeriums der Verteidigung". Bundeswehr (in German). 21 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
  6. ^ "Rheinmetall now providing support and maintenance for German Air Force CH-53G transport helicopters at all bases" (Press release). Rheinmetall. 2022-03-22. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
  7. ^ a b "FLEET CUSTOMERS". Grob Aircraft. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
  8. ^ "Die Northrop T-38C Talon". Bundeswehr. Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  9. ^ a b c d "Neue Planungen zu bewaffneten und bewaffnungsfähigen Drohnen" (PDF). Deutscher Bundestag (in German). 2018-03-06. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
  10. ^ "Open Skies". BMVg (in German). Retrieved 2022-06-25.
  11. ^ .de/pm/147341/5295869 "Das BAAINBw übernimmt zweiten Airbus A321LR für die Bundeswehr". Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (in German). 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2022-08-12. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  12. ^ Pallini, Thomas (2020-08-23). "Germany just took delivery of its new VIP plane that will fly the country's top government officials – take a look". Business Insider. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
  13. ^ "Germany Takes Delivery Of Its 1st Fully Equipped Government Airbus A350". simpleflying.com. 2022-11-16. Retrieved 2022-11-16.
  14. ^ a b "Germany to regain SIGINT capability with new Pegasus fleet". Flight Global. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
  15. ^ a b "German Air Force SIGINT capacity". www.scramble.nl. 2022-11-27. Retrieved 2022-11-27.
  16. ^ "NHV awarded H145 service contract by German Air Force". NHV. 2020-12-10. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
  17. ^ "Sieben Tankflugzeuge Airbus A330 MRTT für die NATO". Bundeswehr Journal. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Tornado". www.bundeswehr.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  19. ^ International, Armada (2018-07-16). "German Air Force procures 300 Laser-Guided Sidewinder Missiles". Armada International. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
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  21. ^ a b "Bordkanone Mauser 27 Millimeter". www.bundeswehr.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-25.
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  23. ^ a b "Luft-Luft-Rakete AIM-120 AMRAAM". www.bundeswehr.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  24. ^ a b "Luft-Luft-Rakete IRIS-T AIM-2000". www.bundeswehr.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  25. ^ a b "Rakete METEOR". www.bundeswehr.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  26. ^ a b "Bombe GBU-48". www.bundeswehr.de (in German). 2020-01-22. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  27. ^ "Lenkflugkörper Taurus KEPD-350". www.bundeswehr.de (in German). 2019-08-07. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
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  29. ^ "Bombe GBU-54". www.bundeswehr.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  30. ^ Dubois, Gastón (2023-06-20). "Paris Air Show: this is what the Eurofighter proposed to Spain for the Halcon II program looks like". Aviacionline.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-06-25.
  31. ^ "Germany to end Patriot air defence system deployments in Poland, Slovakia this year". SWI swissinfo.ch. 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  32. ^ "Ukraine updates: Germany says Patriots delivered to Kyiv – DW – 04/19/2023". dw.com. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
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  34. ^ ESD (2022-12-01). "Raytheon and MBDA to Jointly Build PATRIOT Missiles in Germany". European Security & Defence. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
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  37. ^ Hemanth (2019-07-15). "Hensoldt delivers ASR-S radar to German military training centre". Airforce Technology. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  38. ^ "Navaids in Germany @ OurAirports". ourairports.com. Retrieved 2023-09-29.
  39. ^ "Airbus signs contract for 38 Eurofighters with Germany". Airbus. 2020-11-11. Retrieved 2022-06-25.
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  53. ^ Williams, Dan (2023-08-17). "Israel says Arrow-3 missile-killer sale to Germany approved by U.S." Reuters. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
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  55. ^ https://www.rtx.com/news/news-center/2024/03/21/rtxs-raytheon-awarded-1-2-billion-contract-to-provide-patriot-air-and-missile-d
  56. ^ "Germany plans purchase of six IRIS-T air defence units". Reuters. 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
  57. ^ "IRIS-T Guided Missile Family IRIS-T SL". Archived from the original on 2013-01-13.
  58. ^ "IRIS-T SLM". Deagel. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  59. ^ "Beschaffung: IRIS-T SLM, Einstieg in Arrow und weitere Wechselladersysteme". www.bmvg.de (in German). 2023-07-13. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  60. ^ ES&T Redaktion (2024-01-04). "800 Patriot-Flugkörper zur Raketenabwehr für Deutschland und drei andere NATO-Staaten bestellt". esut.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  61. ^ ES&T Redaktion (2023-12-21). "Rahmenvertrag für bis zu 1.280 Lenkflugkörper IRIS-T abgeschlossen". esut.de (in German). Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  62. ^ Dougherty, Robert (2023-07-20). "Germany to acquire almost 1k AMRAAMs from US". www.defenceconnect.com.au. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
  63. ^ "Germany – AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) | Defense Security Cooperation Agency". www.dsca.mil. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
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Further reading[edit]

Hundreds of books, magazines and articles have been written about the Luftwaffe. A select few are listed here.

  • Amadio, Jill (2002), Günther Rall: A Memoir, Seven Locks Press. ISBN 0-9715533-0-0.
  • Philpott, Bryan (1986), History of the German Air Force, Hamlyn. ISBN 0-600-50293-7.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Air force of Germany.
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