This list intends to give an accurate detail list of the equipment currently fielded by the German Air Force.
Aircraft | Origin | Image | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat Aircraft | |||||||
Eurofighter Typhoon | Interceptor | T1 | 33 | ||||
Swingrole | T2 | 79 | |||||
Swingrole | T3 | 31 | |||||
Panavia Tornado | multirole | IDS | 68 | [1] | |||
Panavia Tornado | SEAD / ECR (Electronic Combat Reconnaissance) | ECR | 21 | ||||
Military Transport / Aerial refueling | |||||||
Airbus A400M | tactical airlifter / aerial refueling | A400M | 40 | 13 additional still on order[2] | |||
Lockheed Martin C-130J | tactical airlifter | C-130J-30 | 3 | [3] | |||
tactical airlifter / aerial refueling | KC-130J | 3 | [4] | ||||
Helicopter | |||||||
Airbus Helicopters H145 | 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 | |||
Eurocopter AS532 | VIP transport | AS532 U2 | 3 | [5] | |||
Sikorsky CH-53 | transport | CH-53G | 66 | [6] | |||
Trainer aircraft | |||||||
Grob G 120 | basic trainer | G 120A / G 120TP | 6 / 5 | [7] / | |||
Northrop T-38 | jet trainer | T-38C | 46[8] | ||||
UAVs | |||||||
IAI Heron | surveillance | Heron 1 | 5[9] | to be replaced by Heron TP | |||
IAI Heron | surveillance and combat | Heron TP (Eitan) | 5 | 5 on order | |||
"White Fleet" | |||||||
Airbus A319 | VIP transport | A319CJ | 2 | Passenger and material transport, strategic patient air transport or flights within the framework of arms control | |||
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 | VIP, troops transport | A321-200 | 1 | ||||
Airbus A321neo | Transport andMEDEVAC | A321LR | 2 | [11] | |||
Airbus A350 | VIP, troops transport | ACJ350 | 3 | [12] | |||
Bombardier Global 5000 | Canada | VIP transport | Global 5000 | 3 | |||
Bombardier Global 6000 | Canada | VIP transport | Global 6000 | 3 | [13] [14] |
Aircraft | Origin | Operator | Image | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Airbus A330 | MMF(Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet)
Luxembourg | TankerCargo transport | A330 MRTT | 7 | 3 on order, the last one to be delivered in 2026 | |||
Boeing E-3 Sentry | NAEW&CF program(NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force)
Luxembourg | AEW&C(Airborne early warning and control) | E-3A | 14 | 18 aircraft used initially | |||
Northrop Grumman – RQ-4 Global Hawk | AGS(Alliance Ground Surveillance) | UAV HALE /ISR / | RQ-4D Phoenix(Block 40) | 5 |
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).[17]
An electronic warfare and SEAD / DEAD aircraft .
Conventional Guided bombs:
Model | Image | Origin | Type | Number | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MIM-104 PatriotMobile and Protected Signals Intelligence | SAM | 7 | During Cold War, Germany had 36 Patriot systems in service.In July 2024:
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: The existing PAC2 missiles have a service life limited to 2030.[32] | |||
IRIS-T SLM Part of the ESSI | Tactical air defense system | 1 / 6[33] | The PAC-3 MSE missile is expected to be supplemented by IRIS-T SLM as secondary missile for ground-based medium range air defence. It is based on the IRIS-T air-to-air missile[34] equipped with an enlarged rocket motor, data link, and jettisonable drag-reducing nose cone.[35] 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,[36] 8 in total are expected eventually. First delivery in August 2024. | |||
OzelotLeFlaSys (leichtes Flugabwehrsystem) | FlaRaWaTrg: AFF: | Light SHORAD | 67 vehicles | System based on Wiesel 2 vehicles, composed of the variants:
Operated by the 3rd Squadron of 61 Surface-to-Air Missile Group. A standard battery is made of
|
Model | Image | Origin | Type | Quantity | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ground Master 406F | 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.[38] | |||
HADR NF | 3D radar /Long range air surveillance / | 4 | ||||
RRP 117 | 3D radar /Long range air surveillance / | 8 | Under radome, in service since 1998 | |||
Selex RAT-31DL | 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) | Airport surveillance radar | 20 | Radar used for:
|
Aircraft | Origin | Image | Type | Variant | Ordered | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat Aircraft | |||||||
Eurofighter Typhoon | Swingrole | T4 | 38 | [41] | |||
Swingrole | T5 | (20) | Planned order[42] | ||||
SEAD / ECR (Electronic Combat Reconnaissance) | ECR | 15 | [43] [44] | ||||
Lockheed Martin F-35 | multirole / nuclear deterrent bomber | F-35A | 35 | [45] Purchased to continue German contribution to the Nuclear sharing B61-12 | |||
Helicopter | |||||||
CH-47 Chinook | Heavy transport helicopter | CH-47F Block II | 60 | [46] | |||
H145 | Attack helicopter | H145M | 5 | 62 ordered by the German military, 5 for the Luftwaffe, 57 for the army. 20 additional ones are on option. [47] | |||
UAVs | |||||||
Eurodrone | surveillance, reconnaissance and combat | — | 21 | 7 systems on contract with 21 drones for €3 billion[48] [49] | |||
SIGINT | |||||||
PegasusBased on Bombardier Global 6000 | Canada | Note: illustration image | Surveillance | Global 6000 | 3 | Ordered in 2021, to enter service by 2025 and replace the Eurohawk |
List of aircraft that are planned to be replaced in a near future for which the successor has not yet been selected.
Future aircraft for the German Air Force, to take over the nuclear deterrence mission and to be used as a strike aircraft as well:[51]
System | Image | Origin | Type | Number | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SAM Systems | ||||||
Arrow 3 | 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[56] [57] | |||
MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3+Part of the ESSI | SAM /Anti-ballistic missile | 8 | 048402 Orders:
The contracts include the fire units, spare parts and support services. | |||
SAM missiles | ||||||
MIM-104 Patriot - PAC-2 GEM-T | Surface-to-air missiles | 200(+ 300 on option) | Framework agreement for up to 500 missiles approved in December 2023 for €3.01 billion.[60] The missiles will be assembled in Germany, and the main subcontractors will be MBDA, Bayern Chemie, TDW Gesellschaft für Wirksysteme, Sener Aerospacial and RTX. [61] Orders: | |||
Air-to-air missiles | ||||||
AIM-120C AMRAAM | Air-to-air missiles | 105 | Ordered with the F-35A.[65] | |||
AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM | Air-to-air missiles | —(969 planned) | In July 2023, the US State Department approved the sale of AIM-120C8 for €2.61 billion. It includes: 969 AIM-120C-8 + 12 guidance sections + Captive Air Training Missiles + support equipment.[66] In May 2024, the Parliamentary Budget Committee approved the purchase of an unknown quantity of missiles for €178 million.[67] | |||
IRIS-T | 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).[68] | |||
Air-to-ground missiles | ||||||
Brimstone 3 | Air-to-surface missiles | 379 | Framework agreement for 3,266 missiles approved in June 2024.[69] Orders: |
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 | |
---|---|---|---|
Lockheed Martin F-35 | 8 additional being considered.[73] | ||
AGM-158B JASSM-ER | 75 planned by the Bundeswehr.[74] | ||
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.[75] [76] This sale would include:
| ||
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:[77]
| ||
Skyranger 30NNbS 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:[78] Weapons:
Sensors
| ||
MIM-104 Patriot - PAC-3 MSE | Germany cleared by DSCA to purchase up to 600 missiles. | ||
Patriot system maintenance |
| ||
Geostationary communications satellites | — | Procurement of 2 SATCOMBw Level 3 Initial Capability satellites [80] |
Hundreds of books, magazines and articles have been written about the Luftwaffe. A select few are listed here.