Luftwaffe: The Strongest of Our Neighbors

Numerically, the largest and most powerful air force of our neighbors to Germany. His Luftwaffe air forces, while holding this position historically. Currently solve our northwestern neighbor control needed and the transition to a new type of fighter, but still remains within the whole of Europe alongside France and partly even of Great Britain and Italy, the strongest European Air Force general. In its arsenal while the large number of aircraft types that cover really considerable range of combat tasks.

Tornado ECR version of ordnance

The famous history

German Air Force has become known for the 1st World War II. At that clashed with the German pilots in the sky, especially with the French and their allies. The main tasks of the Air Force at that time belonged to air combat, shooting down airships, exploration, and finally dropping bombs on ground targets. Combat aircraft were at the time by today's highly imperfect, but it was the first large deployment of military aviation technology.

In 2 World War II was therefore clear that the Air Force will have even greater significance. In addition to fighters fighting for air superiority gaining in importance especially bombers various categories. Have played a role transport aircraft and well basically hence we can divide the component Air Force tactical offensive, strategic, transport, etc.

Germany lost the war, however, and was divided into east and west. Each had the same time during the Cold War on its territory, large numbers of aircraft. After all, Germany was occupied a large area through which the army tried to get hot in the event of a conflict.

Two-seater version of the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter

The situation has obviously changed after the fall of the Berlin Wall and re-link the western and eastern Germany into one country. Until recently, the aircraft served alongside the eastern and western origin. Now, however, remain in service almost exclusively to Western aircraft production and also introducing new ones.

Tactical Force: Eurofighter Typhoon and F-4 Phantom II

For the purpose of tactical air-policing and, if air superiority is fighting the Luftwaffe in modern supersonic fighter aircraft Eurofighter Typhoon . Germans have ordered a total of 140 of these aircraft, which are already included in service with the 55th Besides air combat Typhoons may also serve to attack ground targets and exploration, but these tasks in the German Air Force Tornado aircraft shall, in particular. Yet it is support of ground troops will provide a Typhoon squadron.

A pair of F-4 fighters with additional fuel tanks 

The second aircraft is capable to carry out air-air combat and policing is an older but still functional and useful McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II . He is currently ranked at number 45 pieces in the future should be replaced by just Typhoon. Indeed, the qualities of the F-4 Phantom II, many times to better reflect their use in the protection of the Baltic airspace.

Immortal Tornado

The airplane entered a long time in service with the Luftwaffe assault Panavia Tornados . It was still during the Cold War, and was designed primarily to attack ground targets while flying at low altitude at high speed. Thanks to the robustness and quality, these aircraft survived in many air forces today and has been successfully deployed in many conflicts. Tornado can accommodate two persons (pilot and weapon systems operator) and the specific variable geometry wings.

Germans have in the arsenal included two versions of this airplane. The first is the ECR (Electronic Combat / Reconnaissance) intended for electronic combat and reconnaissance. This version has been developed especially for the type of missions SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air defenses), a suppression of enemy air protection) and safety purposes of the survey.

Tornado over the Nevada desert 

The second version of the Tornado aircraft is engaged in the German Air Force is IDS (interdictor / strike) designed to attack ground targets. Interestingly, the differences between the two versions are gradually blurring. The aim is to simplify the ongoing modernization and in case of conflict, be able to identify a larger number of aircraft the purpose for which will be deployed.

The sad news for Tornado is the planned reduction in its numbers. Currently have 32 Luftwaffe aircraft version of the ECR and 145 IDS aircraft. In the future, however, counting only a total of 85 aircraft, so that 92 (over half) is to be phased out in the economy, and transferred to reserves for replacement parts.

Transport aircraft upgrades

Air transport also has a very good representation of the Luftwaffe. Chapter to itself is called VIP transport, in which transport services are provided by the politicians but the soldiers if necessary. For this purpose, included four Global Express 5000 from Bombardier. Likewise, in units of 2 provides the transport aircraftAirbus A319CJ (incidentally, the same type has also the Czech Air Force) and the Airbus A340 .

 The new European four-engine turboprop transport aircraft with long range / Markutsch

The backbone of the Air Force transport aircraft, however, Transall C-160 developed by the Franco-German consortium. Germans have in the arsenal of a total of 80 twin-engine propeller-driven transport aircraft, which are able to process routine transport materials and people to carry out air dropping and dropping supplies during the flight.

Now C-160 is designed to complement and partially replace modern and brand new Airbus A400M , which is compared to the previous much more powerful aircraft. The equipment should therefore be included in the number of 40 aircraft and will be reduced depending on the number of "C-stošedesátek" on 60 of

Airbus A310MRTT ready for refueling 

And finally, the last type of aircraft entered in the German Air Force is the Airbus A310 . One piece only serves to strategic transport, however, four performance A310MRTT used directly as aerial tankers for refueling. This is the way to heaven today to fight a big advantage as aircraft range is very limited. Since that time depends on one mission or attack, for example, ensuring no-fly zone.

At the end I just say that Germany has masterfully constructed and the most powerful combat aircraft of not only our neighbors but throughout Europe. It can perform various objectives from protecting airspace, electronic warfare, attacks on ground targets protected differently to long-distance transport. Much of it may merit its own air tankers to engage and lead their own combat missions over long distances from home bases.