The issue is that under the nuclear sharing agreement, Germany has to provide the bomber jets.
As part of nuclear sharing, the participating countries carry out consultations and make common decisions on nuclear-weapons policy, training, and deployment, and maintain technical equipment (notably nuclear-capable aircraft) that is required for the delivery of nuclear weapons.
To be nuclear-capable, an aircraft needs to be certified by the US in this case since they provide the nuclear weapons. In the past, this was done for the Tornado; that one however is being phased out due to age.
So the options are:
get out of the nuclear sharing agreement. I don’t think that’s currently a feasible option for Germany.
Certify a European aircraft. There’s no guarantee that a verification will be successful, but what will be guaranteed is that all design documents are to be provided to the certification body. I don’t think Europe is currently willing to reveal all their know-how in that domain to the US. Apart from that, I’m not aware of a current generation bomber jet, only fighters, but I don’t really care about that topic so maybe one exists.
Buy a certified US aircraft
So yeah he’s correct in that this doesn’t increase dependence on the US, the dependence stems from the nuclear sharing agreement itself, not this purchase.
WDYM? Germany will operate a hybrid fleet, with the majority of the fighter jets being Eurofighters, and the F-35s being used for nuclear sharing. At least that is my understanding. 3. is a hybrid fleet option
Technically the F-35 is a fighter jet as well and it would be possible to modify a Eurofighter.
However they have to be modified by the US. There are a lot of safeties build into any nuclear armed plane, to make sure the nuke explodes if and only if it is supposed to explode. So no accidents and no Germany just takes a US nuke and just bombs somebody. Hence you need safeties build into the plane to make sure that does not happen.
He’s right in my opinion.
The issue is that under the nuclear sharing agreement, Germany has to provide the bomber jets.
To be nuclear-capable, an aircraft needs to be certified by the US in this case since they provide the nuclear weapons. In the past, this was done for the Tornado; that one however is being phased out due to age.
So the options are:
So yeah he’s correct in that this doesn’t increase dependence on the US, the dependence stems from the nuclear sharing agreement itself, not this purchase.
Yes, but also No.
Good post.
WDYM? Germany will operate a hybrid fleet, with the majority of the fighter jets being Eurofighters, and the F-35s being used for nuclear sharing. At least that is my understanding. 3. is a hybrid fleet option
My bad indeed! I thought they were going full F35.
Option 1 + expansion of French nuclear umbrella.
That is probably an option in about 5 years, if at all.
Technically the F-35 is a fighter jet as well and it would be possible to modify a Eurofighter.
However they have to be modified by the US. There are a lot of safeties build into any nuclear armed plane, to make sure the nuke explodes if and only if it is supposed to explode. So no accidents and no Germany just takes a US nuke and just bombs somebody. Hence you need safeties build into the plane to make sure that does not happen.