Massive modernization of the German armed forces has begun. German arms companies receive orders, Germany buys American F-35 planes, the French are dissatisfied, writes Auron Dodi.
The historic turning point in Germany’s defense and energy policy creates the conditions for a diverse industrial landscape in Germany. A larger role in German industrial production is expected to be played by German armaments concerns. So far Germany has been one of the largest arms exporters in the world. But in Germany’s total output, the arms industry has had insignificant weight.
Representatives of the German arms industry, such as the Rheinmetall concern, told the Western media these days that no more than a few months ago, in Germany they were often seen as “harmful” industries. The reputation of the arms industry in German society has been damaged often recalling in the media the connection of some German concerns with the Nazis, in World War II.This went so far that armaments firms sometimes found it difficult to obtain loans in German banks.
Jörg Vollmer, commander of NATO’s Allied Joint Forces Command in Brunssum, said the transformation of the German armed forces began with the annexation of Crimea and the war in Donbass. But this transformation “was not enough.”
“Arms order boom”
But now the situation is completely different. This year alone, Germany will spend an additional 100 billion euros on defense , and more than 2 percent of gross domestic product. After the outbreak of war in Ukraine, Germany decided to become the third largest power in the world, after the US and China, for defense investments.
MG 3 type machine gun, produced by Rheinmetall concern
The German arms group Rheinmetall, based in Düsseldorf, told Der Spiegel magazine that it expects a boom in arms and equipment orders. With just 24,000 employees, it expects a 20 percent increase in orders. It is preparing to add 1,500. up to 3000 employees in factories in Germany, England and Australia.
After the start of the war in Ukraine, Rheinmetall offered the German government a long-term product package, worth 42 billion Euros. The package contains offers for tanks, ammunition, military trucks and other goods. Rheinmetall also manufactures weapons and anti-aircraft systems.
Other German armaments companies have also made offers to the government, such as radar and camera sensor specialist Hensoldt, as well as submarine builder Thyssenkrupp. But there is no lack of smaller enterprises, such as. Jensoptik, which produces binoculars for rifles.
An additional € 100 billion for defense
According to the media, the additional funds this year will be used for the offspring of Tornado aircraft, for transport helicopters and for additional aircraft, Eurofighter. Thus, 15 billion Euros are foreseen for F-35 aircraft and other aircraft, 5 billion Euros will be given for the new heavy transport helicopters. 2.5 billion Euros will be invested for the further development of the Eurofighter aircraft. 20 billion Euros for ammunition. 3 billion Euros will be used for the digitization of troops, their ground operations, and for equipment and command posts. 1.1 billion will be used to modernize the Patriot air-to-air system. Armed drones, corvettes and navy frigates will also be purchased.
Why Germany will buy F-35s
After Great Britain left the EU, European defense cooperation took more concrete forms. In 2017, Germany and France decided to support the idea of ”European sovereignty” through military cooperation in several areas.
In 2019 Germany decided to buy American F-18 aircraft of the manufacturer Boeing. These aircraft, which would be used to transport nuclear weapons, would serve as a transitional solution until the start of production of the new generation European fighter aircraft , the New Generation Fighter , part of the Future Combat System being developed by Germany. France and Spain.
But for a variety of reasons, Germany has now abandoned this plan. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht stated that Germany will buy American F-35 aircraft.
The reasons are on the one hand military, on the other hand they have to do with the progress of the German-French cooperation for the development of the New Generation Fighter aircraft . An important factor is also the fact that the American F-35 aircraft is becoming the standard of European armies.
F-35C Lightning II aircraft
The military reasons are that the American F-35 aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, are almost undetectable by radar. According to German military experts, F-35 aircraft can further detect long-range targets and destroy them, better than any other aircraft currently on the world market.
Germany has decided to buy 35 F-35 jets to transport nuclear weapons with them. Germany itself has no nuclear weapons. But in West Germany, in Büchel, US nuclear weapons have been deployed for decades. In case of danger, Germany can transport these weapons to the destination.
With F-35 aircraft Germany will replace German Tornado aircraft. Germany has 93 such aircraft, which have been in use since 1980.
Some Tornado aircraft are capable of transporting nuclear weapons. Others fight radars and are used for reconnaissance.
The F-35 is returning to the European standard because it is used by many NATO countries. For example. Great Britain, Italy, Holland, Belgium. Poland has also decided to buy this aircraft. Spain is considering the purchase. Denmark, Norway, Finland and Switzerland already have F-35 parts of their air fleet. This fact makes European cooperation easier.
French critics: F-35 – symbol of US power in NATO
Germany’s decision to massively modernize the army was welcomed in the French media. But the decision to buy the F-35 was met with disappointment by the French. The French see the F-35 as a symbol of US power in NATO. French analysts said that in order to develop a European sovereignty in defense, Germany should have focused on European armaments policy. But things are not so simple.
Germany will now buy 15 more European-made Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to use in electronic warfare. With them it will increase its fleet of 140 Eurofighter aircraft.
Bundeswehr soldiers, part of the NATO unit in Lithuania
Second, Germany is not abandoning the supermodern fighter jet , the New Generation Fighter , to be built alongside the French and Spaniards. This aircraft is the key element of the Future Combat System , the future combat system. In this system aircraft will communicate with drones and satellites. They may even have laser guns.
The French did not offer technological access to the Germans
But according to plans, this new aircraft should go into production not before 2025 or 2026. The entire Future Combat System will be put into use in 2040. While cooperation with the French has had frictions.
The French concern Dassault, which will develop and administer the steering system of the new European aircraft, did not allow the Germans access to the technology.
In February 2021, at the meeting of the German-French Defense Council, Chancellor Angela Merkel said that “the development of the aircraft is under French leadership, but German industry must be able to participate at a satisfactory level.” Germany has promised billions of Euros for this project and it is understandable that it sought access to its industry.
The Germans appease the French
In June 2021, Germany and France made a balance sheet of the implementation of the Aachen Treaty, the friendship between the two countries. In it French President Emmanuel Macron said military disputes with Germany had been resolved. But other sources said in January 2022 that as for the new aircraft, disputes have continued.
However, Berlin has recently made some statements to allay French fears that Germany no longer needs the Future Combat System. Addressing the historic turning point in the Bundestag, Chancellor Scholz called the construction of “the next generation of fighter jets and tanks, together with our European partners, especially France, an” absolute priority “. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said that now Germany’s military budget is enough to continue investing in the project with the French. Even for the new generation European battle tank, Main Ground Combat System, which will be produced under German leadership (led by the Rheinmetall concern), cooperation with the French will continue according to plan./DW
