This list intends to give an accurate detail list of the equipment currently fielded by the German Air Force.
Current inventory
Collaborations with German Air Force Participation
Note, NHV provides the H145 rotorcraft training
Armament
Weapons and equipment used on each aircraft
Panavia Tornado IDS variant
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).
Canon: Mauser BK-27
Air-Air missiles: AIM-9L Sidewinder, IRIS-T
Air-ground missiles: AGM-88B HARM Block IIIB, Taurus KEPD 350, Guided bombs: GBU-24 Paveway III (MK-84 or BLU-109), GBU-38 / 54 JDAM (MK-82 bomb body) Unguided bombs: MK-82 Nuclear bombs: B61-3 and B61-4 Pods: Litening II (Rafael), Airborne Reconnaissance Pod II (ARP II)
Tornado ECR
An electronic warfare and SEAD / DEAD aircraft .
Canon: Mauser BK-27
Air-to-Air missiles: AIM-9L, IRIS-T
Anti-radiation missiles: AGM-88B HARM Block IIIB
Guided bombs: GBU-38 / 54 JDAM (MK-82 bomb body) Unguided bombs: MK-82, MK-83, MK-84 Other: ECM pods (including jammers), passive radar, and ECCM equipment
Eurofighter T1
Canon: Mauser BK-27
Air-Air missiles: AIM-9L, AIM-120B AMRAAM, IRIS-T
Guided bombs: GBU-48 Paveway III
Pods: Rafael Litening III
Eurofighter T2, T3 and T4
Canon: Mauser BK-27
Air-Air missiles: AIM-9L, AIM-120B, IRIS-T, AIM-120C5, Meteor
Air-ground missiles: Taurus KEPD-350, AGM-88E
Guided bombs: GBU-48 Paveway III, GBU-54 Laser-JDAM
Pods: Rafael Litening III, Litening V ordered
Complementary elements for some weapons
Conventional Guided bombs: GBU-24, 907 kg bomb with a Paveway II semi-active laser guidance system, a FBM21 fuse and: MK-84 bomb body, or BLU-109 penetration bomb GBU-38 JDAM, 277 kg bomb with a JDAM guidance system (GPS/INS), MK-82 bomb body and FBM21 fuse. GBU-54 Laser-JDAM, 277 kg bomb made of the L-JDAM guidance system (passive laser seeker, GPS/INS), MK-82 bomb body and a FBM21 bomb fuse and an APS (adjustable proximity sensor). GBU-48, 454 kg bomb made of the Enhanced Paveway II guidance system (passive laser seeker, GPS/INS), MK-83 bomb body and FBM21 bomb fuse.
Air Defence Systems
Situation in April 2022
Radar systems
Navigation equipment
Future equipment for the German Air Force
Aircraft
Equipment for future German aircraft
F-35 (future equipment) Future aircraft for the German Air Force, to take over the nuclear deterrence mission. Canon GAU-22/A (25 mm) B61-12 (it will equip the F-35, designed to be stored internally)
Eurofighter ECR
Electronic Attack configuration
Canon: Mauser BK-27
Air-to-Air missiles: 2 IRIS-T , 4 Meteor
Anti-radiation missiles: 2 AGM-88E
Pod: 2 escort jammer Saab Arexis, 3 fuel tanks
SEAD configuration
Canon: Mauser BK-27
Air-to-Air missiles: 2 IRIS-T , 4 Meteor
Anti-radiation missiles: 2 AGM-88E, 6 SPEAR-EW
Pod: 3 fuel tanks
Air defence of the German military
Purchases confirmed
Potential future equipment
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".
See also
Luftstreitkräfte der NVA
Glossary of German military terms
Kommando LSK/LV
List of military aircraft of Germany
Luftwaffenmuseum, Berlin
References
Further reading
Hundreds of books, magazines and articles have been written about the Luftwaffe. A select few are listed here.
Amadio, Jill (2002), Günther Rall: A Memoir, Seven Locks Press. . Philpott, Bryan (1986), History of the German Air Force, Hamlyn. .