전투기 독일, F-35와 타이푼 구매

[위종민]

https://www.airforcemag.com/germany-to-buy-f-35-and-typhoon-fighters-as-it-boosts-defense-spending/?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=germany-to-buy-f-35-and-typhoon-fighters-as-it-boosts-defense-spending 

독일이 라이트닝II 35기와 타이푼 15기를 구매해 토네이도를 대체할 예정입니다. F-35는 제공권 장악과 타격, 타이푼은 전자공격 및 호위 등 특화된 임무를 수행할 예정이라고 하며, 2025년~2030년 사이에 운용에 들어갈 것으로 보입니다. F-35는 나토의 핵무기 투발에도 쓰일 것입니다. 

이로써 독일은 벨기에, 덴마크, 이탈리아, 네덜란드, 노르웨이, 폴란드와 영국, 미국 등 나토 가입국 및 핀란드와 스위스 등 나토 비가입국들과 함께 F-35를 운영하게 되었습니다. 

독일은 2020년에 F/A-18E/F 30기, EA-18 그라울러 15기 구매를 계획했었지만 F-35의 상호작전성이 더 높았던 것이 결정을 뒤집은 가장 큰 요인이었다고 합니다. 유럽의 F/A-18 운용국은 스페인과 핀란드 뿐이며, 핀란드는 최근에 F-35를 주문했습니다. 

Germany to Buy F-35 and Typhoon Fighters as It Boosts Defense Spending - Air Force Magazine

Germany has decided to buy 35 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighters and 15 Eurofighter Typhoons to bolster its air forces, after officials there said they had settled on Boeing F/A-18E/F fighters. The new jets will replace Germany’s fleet of Tornado interdiction/strike aircraft.

The F-35s would be used for air superiority and strike, while the Typhoons would be used for specialized missions such as electronic attack and escort. Germany has previously said it needs the new aircraft to be operational between 2025 and 2030. The Tornado fleet dates back to the 1980s.

The stealthy F-35s would also be used to carry tactical nuclear weapons for NATO.

German defense minister Christine Lambrecht said the F-35 provides “a unique potential to cooperate with our NATO allies and partners in Europe.” Luftwaffe chief Gen. Ingo Gerhartz said the German air force will be “very well prepared for the future” with “the F-35 and the further development of the Eurofighter for electronic warfare.” Germany has operated a dedicated electronic attack/suppression of enemy air defenses version of the Tornado called the Tornado ECR (electronic combat/reconnaissance).

Germany would join fellow NATO allies Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the U.K., and the U.S. as F-35 customers, as well as non-NATO European countries Finland and Switzerland, which each ordered the jet in the last few months. Canada, an original F-35 development partner, is also believed to be leaning toward buying the F-35 this year.

Details of the sale, such as price and delivery timelines, were not immediately disclosed. Pentagon officials said the Germans would buy the F-35A conventional take-off model of the jet.

Lockheed Martin, F-35 builder, said it’s “proud of the confidence” in the jet shown by the German defense ministry and Luftwaffe in making the selection, and noted the high interoperability now possible with other European countries that have also bought the F-35. The Lightning II is “the only 5th generation fighter available today to strengthen Germany’s operational capability with allies,” and the company touted the jet’s stealth and survivability, offering a “critical advantage against any adversary.”

The March 14 announcement follows Germany’s decision in February to increase defense spending by $112 billion. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Germany would surpass the NATO goal of member nations spending at least two percent of their GDP on defense after years of criticism for falling well short of that target, despite being one of the wealthiest NATO members.

The boost in defense spending was prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which highlighted Germany’s lackluster defense investments in recent years.

German officials in 2020 said they planned to ask the U.S. to buy 30 F/A-18E/F fighters and 15 EA-18 Growler electronic warfare variants. Industry officials said the F-35, however, offered interoperability advantages that outweighed other considerations. Only Spain and Finland in Europe operate the F/A-18, and Finland recently chose the F-35 for its future fighter.

Germany said the F-35 purchase does not affect its plans to pursue the Future Combat Air System fighter, which it will develop jointly with other European countries.

[사처포(곽명기)]

{F-35, offered interoperability advantages ...}
F-35가 F-18 Grawler를 대체할 정도로 전자전 기능을 가졌는지요 ?

[위종민]

기사상으론 타이푼을 그라울러 대신 전자전/전자공격 임무에 투입할 생각으로 산다고 합니다.

라이트닝II가 그라울러급의 전자전 능력을 가졌는지는 잘 모르겠는데, 타이푼을 전자전용으로 산다는 게 더 의외네요. 더 이상 멍텅구리 폭탄이나 던지는 비싼 장난감이 아닌 모양입니다.

[엑스트라 1]

타이푼 전자전형이 독일공군 토네이도 대체용으로 제안되었으나, 재밍포드 및 구성요소들은 이제부터 개발비가 얼마나 들지, 사실 만들기는 할 수 있는건지 협상해야겠지요.

[사처포(곽명기)]

네, 답글 고맙습니다.