Germany To Boost Defense Spending?

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"Germany To Boost Defense Spending"
by Caroline Bruneau in Ares
Mar 20, 2015

Source:
http://aviationweek.com/blog/germany-boost-defense-spending

Will Germany finally assume its share of European defense? It will if German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble has his way.

“We'll have to shoulder higher spending on defense in the next few years given the various crises and instability in the world,” he said in the tabloid Bild am Sonntag earlier this month.

Schäuble did not specify the amount of such an increase, but said most of the money would go to large defense programs starting in 2017.

“In the short-term, i.e. for the coming year, you can't do much with a bigger defense budget because industry simply can't deliver big defense projects that quickly,” he said.

The budget increase for development aid, a traditional focus of the German army, will only be “moderate,” he said. Instead, the additional money will go to inner security, because “unfortunately the world has become less safe,” he added.

The spending increase is controversial inside pacifist Germany, which has been criticized in Europe for being difficult to work with in defense. Armed forces commitments have to be openly discussed and voted by the Bundestag, the German assembly. In past years, the public debate has prevented the German government from sending aircraft and troops in support of Operation Harmattan in Libya in 2011 to support France and the U.K. For the French-led Operational Serval in Mali, Germany provided only logistical support.

Schäuble's announcement comes at a critical juncture in Germany, where the government is reviewing its new “White Book” on defense, which will guide military spending for the next 10 years. Germany will spend €32.9 billion ($35.5 billion) in 2015, equivalent to 1.3% of its GDP, far from the goal NATO goal of 2% for each alliance member set last year.
 
I rather doubt a real drone or missile attack will be as slow or as predictable. One for the media types perhaps.
 
Drones having no pilot can make extreme changes in direction. This
makes them very hard to engage with gunfire.
 
They just announce major shift. This year Bundeswehr receive 100 billion EUR extra on the top of defensive budget. From next year Germany are going to allocate over 2% of GDP to Defence budget. This means extra 12-15 billion dollars. Kanzler Scholz also announce that Germany buy F35 to replace Tornado as nuclear delivery system.
Whole speech here:
View: https://youtu.be/9_DMcayCtnA
 
Look what it took for the epiphany tho'.
 
He not mention the F-35 either as Nuclear bomber or to buy it
He say the Development of new fighter (german/french) got top priority
also will Germany buy the right aircraft to replace the Tornados
and that Eurofighter get electronic warfare upgrade package.

the only mention of 35 is as Scholz Adress the german climate Agenda 2035 of zero CO2 output
here the translator got confused, do fast talk of Scholz and pronounce stumble a "ffff 35" instead of 2035.

The F-35 and F-18 are for moment contender for nuclear bomber for Luftwaffe.
but there also Rafale lurking, just like Boeing offering participation for German Aerospace Industry to build them...
 
the only mention of 35 is as Scholz Adress the german climate Agenda 2035 of zero CO2 output
here the translator got confused, do fast talk of Scholz and pronounce stumble a "ffff 35" instead of 2035.

This is absolutely ridiculous. The mention of F-35 is in the official advance text of the speech issued by the German government in both German and English.
 
in wich one TomS ?
That English translation posted above or the Original speech in German (3 hours)
on English translation i had issue to understand what translator mean what Schulz say.
for moment have no time to watch the 3 hour version
 
in wich one TomS ?
That English translation posted above or the Original speech in German (3 hours)
on English translation i had issue to understand what translator mean what Schulz say.
for moment have no time to watch the 3 hour version
Actual Policy statement by Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany and Member of the German Bundestag, 27 February 2022 in Berlin:
https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg...-bundestag-27-february-2022-in-berlin-2008378
 
in wich one TomS ?
That English translation posted above or the Original speech in German (3 hours)
on English translation i had issue to understand what translator mean what Schulz say.
for moment have no time to watch the 3 hour version
Actual Policy statement by Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany and Member of the German Bundestag, 27 February 2022 in Berlin:
https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg...-bundestag-27-february-2022-in-berlin-2008378

The exact quote (the only one including the word F-35):
And with regard to nuclear sharing, we will procure a modern replacement for the outdated Tornado jets in good time.
The Eurofighter is set to be equipped with electronic warfare capabilities.

The F-35 fighter jet has the potential to be used as a carrier aircraft.

So, in effect, no Growler but E-Typhies and F-35.
Germany is gonna weight down with all its punchy budgetary line on both FCAS industrials (the SpanishGermanoFrench and the SwedishoItalianoBritish).
 
Last edited:
My contacts tell me that to date there has been no formal requests via the FMS route for the F-35. That said, it might still be coming.
 
No meaningful differences between German text and English text:
Wir streben dieses Ziel nicht nur an, weil wir bei unseren Freunden und Alliierten im Wort stehen, unsere Verteidigungsausgaben bis 2024 auf 2 Prozent unserer Wirtschaftsleistung zu steigern.
Wir tun dies auch für uns, für unsere eigene Sicherheit, wohl wissend, dass sich nicht alle Bedrohungen der Zukunft mit den Mitteln der Bundeswehr einhegen lassen. Deshalb brauchen wir eine starke Entwicklungszusammenarbeit.

Deshalb werden wir unsere Resilienz stärken, technisch und gesellschaftlich, zum Beispiel gegen Cyberangriffe und Desinformationskampagnen, gegen Angriffe auf unsere kritische Infrastruktur und Kommunikationswege. Und wir werden technologisch auf der Höhe der Zeit bleiben. Darum ist es mir zum Beispiel so wichtig, dass wir die nächste Generation von Kampfflugzeugen und Panzern gemeinsam mit europäischen Partnern und insbesondere Frankreich hier in Europa bauen. Diese Projekte haben oberste Priorität für uns.

Bis die neuen Flugzeuge einsatzbereit sind, werden wir den Eurofighter gemeinsam weiterentwickeln.Gut ist auch, dass die Verträge zur Eurodrohne in dieser Woche endlich unterzeichnet werden konnten. Auch die Anschaffung der bewaffneten Heron-Drohne aus Israel treiben wir voran. Für die nukleare Teilhabe werden wir rechtzeitig einen modernen Ersatz für die veralteten Tornado-Jets beschaffen. Der Eurofighter soll zu Electronic Warfare befähigt werden. Das Kampfflugzeug F‑35 kommt als Trägerflugzeug in Betracht.

Und schließlich, meine Damen und Herren, werden wir mehr tun, um eine sichere Energieversorgung unseres Landes zu gewährleisten.
We have set this goal not only because we have made a promise to our friends and allies to increase our defence expenditure to two percent of our economic output by 2024.
We are also doing this for us, for our own security. In the awareness that the Bundeswehr alone does not have the means to contain all future threats. We therefore need strong development cooperation.

We will therefore strengthen our resilience – in terms of technology and as a society – for example against cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns, against attacks on our critical infrastructure and channels of communication. And we will keep pace with new technology. This is why it is so important to me, for example, that we build the next generation of combat aircraft and tanks here in Europe together with European partners, and particularly France. These projects are our utmost priority.

Until the aircraft are operational, we will continue to develop the Eurofighter together. Another encouraging development is that the contracts for the Eurodrone were finally signed this week. We are also pushing ahead on the purchase of the armed Heron drone from Israel. And with regard to nuclear sharing, we will procure a modern replacement for the outdated Tornado jets in good time. The Eurofighter is set to be equipped with electronic warfare capabilities. The F-35 fighter jet has the potential to be used as a carrier aircraft.

And finally, ladies and gentlemen, we will do more to guarantee a secure energy supply for our country.
 
From Alternative History and Future Speculation, the Re-arming the Bundeswehr thread, by forum member @Hanz2k:

What Scholz said with context mean “nuclear bombs carrier” not carrier based plane. He said that they need to replace Tornados as nuclear bombs carrier, then said about electronic warfare Typhoons and then come back to the topic of F35 as Träger which mean carrier as “carry something” - nuclear bombs in context.
 
It means armchair and official analysts tie themselves in knots trying to interpret a vague reference...;)

Seems clear it's a reference to the sentences immediately before, talking about the nuclear sharing agreement. So "carrier aircraft" means "an aircraft for carrying nuclear weapons."
 
Is there a translator in the house. On Germany rearming, I guess it toke a bear to
rattle the cage hard enough.
 
France not a major member of NATO?
 
Germany does not have any F-35 workshare and is unlikely to gain very much. Finally, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is very much the future of the German military aerospace sector. Considering the political orientation of the current German coalition government, F-35 really doesn’t make any sense whatsoever from an industrial standpoint. After the current little crisis is over, and quickly forgotten, I can’t believe that the German left wing will support tactical nukes. Not after the protests during the Reagan era.
True but workshare isn't everything and its not like buying Super Hornets is any better in that regard.
They could keep churning out Typhoons for another 10 years but it's spares it needs in the short-term.
At least JSF has a more watertight after sales care package that the Bundestag pfennig-pinchers might not be able to mess up.

And yes, the defence spending splurge could well dissipate within a few years.

The FCAS has one major advantage over the F-35: It’s not hard to write the specifications for a paper airplane that exceeds the JSF in every parameter.
I should hope so given the JAST/JSF specs are 30 years old and FCAS isn't due in service until 20 years time... half a century should see some improvement I would hope!
 
Not sure what that means?
Hoodgle translation: "Hey Washington! We found a few Euro's stuffed down the back of the Chancellor's sofa, can we upgrade so we don't feel left out as the only major NATO nation without F-35s?"
... After the current little crisis is over, and quickly forgotten ...

Not sure what that means?
Hoodgle translation: "Hey Washington! We found a few Euro's stuffed down the back of the Chancellor's sofa, can we upgrade so we don't feel left out as the only major NATO nation without F-35s?"
... After the current little crisis is over, and quickly forgotten, I can’t believe that the German left wing will support tactical nukes. Not after the protests during the Reagan era.
...

1. We´re currently not experiencing a "little crisis".
2. It won´t be quickly forgotten.
3. During the Reagan era, no European country was invaded and bombed to pieces by the Russians.
 
A relatively small buy of F-35s (say, somewhere between 24-36 approx?) would have a number of wider benefits for Germany.
It would take some of the time pressure off the FCAS and give them some more leverage in negotiating with the French.
It would give them early operational experience of a 5th generation “stealth” aircraft, give them an olive branch with the US in terms of interoperability, training, balance of trade etc.
And give them a lot more new capacity than a F-18E/F buy would have.
It would also appear unlikely that Germany is relinquishing that (very limited) nuclear role in the near future.
Possible industry concerns may still come to predominate but a F-35 buy by Germany still looking significantly more possible than it has for a while.
 
Are the F-35's the missing pieces in their defense or are more purchases coming?
 
Some E-7As would go nicely.

Someday France will need to replace its E-3s... they have been there since the 1990's, and that's quite a long time (sigh).

I'd expect a NATO purchase of E-7 (or something similar on an Airbus airframe) to replace the current NATO E-3 force, eventually. Germany has no particular need for AWACS outside of the NATO area, so I don't see them wanting their own aircraft.
 

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