Germany Orders 20 New Eurofighters to Bolster Air Superiority

Germany has reiterated its dedication to European defence and air dominance by placing an order for 20 advanced Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft. This contract, granted to Airbus Defence and Space, involves the production of these multi-role combat jets at the company's final assembly facility in Manching, near Munich. Deliveries are set to commence in 2031, with the last aircraft anticipated to enter service by 2034.

The order represents a pivotal milestone in the continued development of Europe's most successful fighter program. It guarantees that the Eurofighter will continue to be the cornerstone of the German Air Force for many years, while also acting as an essential technological link to the future generation of air combat systems.

“This new order is further proof of the Eurofighter’s importance to the German Air Force and the strategic role it plays in our country’s air defence and NATO capabilities,” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space. “The continued evolution of the Eurofighter serves as an essential technological and operational bridge to the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), ensuring a seamless transition to the next generation of air power. With these additional Eurofighters, Germany strengthens its ability to conduct surveillance of its airspace and secure NATO’s skies, supporting our role as a reliable partner for collective security.”

The newly introduced Tranche 5 Eurofighters will be equipped with a comprehensive array of advanced sensors and systems, engineered to ensure air superiority in the most challenging operational conditions. Each aircraft will feature the state-of-the-art E-Scan electronic radar, which provides significantly enhanced detection, tracking, and targeting capabilities compared to earlier models.

Simultaneously, Airbus will enhance the German Eurofighter fleet by incorporating advanced electronic warfare (EW) capabilities. This initiative involves integrating Saab’s Arexis EW suite, which offers improved situational awareness, self-protection, and jamming capabilities against contemporary radar and missile threats. The Arexis system will be installed on newly manufactured aircraft and retrofitted into existing German Eurofighters to maintain operational consistency across the fleet.

These upgrades significantly expand the Eurofighter’s versatility, allowing it to perform a wide range of missions – from air superiority and interception to precision ground attack and electronic warfare support. The result will be one of the most capable and adaptable fighter forces in Europe.

In addition to its military importance, the Eurofighter program continues to be a crucial component of Europe's defence industrial foundation. Developed collaboratively by Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, the program supports over 100,000 jobs across Europe, with approximately 25,000 of those positions located in Germany.

Approximately 120 German suppliers are involved in the production of components, systems, and technologies for the aircraft, ensuring a significant and widespread industrial impact. Airbus highlighted that this new order will not only strengthen national security but also secure high-value engineering and manufacturing jobs in Germany's aerospace sector for the foreseeable future.

Since its inception, the Eurofighter has been ordered by nine nations: Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Austria, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and Qatar, totalling over 740 aircraft. This makes it the most successful European fighter jet program currently in production. The extensive user base facilitates ongoing upgrades, interoperability, and cost efficiencies through collaborative development and maintenance initiatives.

The German Air Force plans to operate the Eurofighter well into the 2060s, with the aircraft forming an integral component of Germany’s evolving air defence architecture. Looking ahead, the Eurofighter will also play a central role in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) – an ambitious European initiative being jointly developed by Germany, France, and Spain to deliver a next-generation air combat capability by 2040.

The FCAS will feature a networked system of crewed and uncrewed aircraft, advanced sensors, and cloud-based data-sharing technologies. In this ecosystem, the Eurofighter will continue to serve as a key operational platform, connecting seamlessly with future combat drones and command networks. By maintaining a strong Eurofighter fleet, Germany ensures a smooth transition to FCAS operations, bridging current and future technologies without gaps in national or NATO air capabilities.

Germany's decision to further invest in its Eurofighter fleet represents a broader initiative among European NATO members to enhance collective defence in response to increasing geopolitical uncertainty. The multirole design of the aircraft allows for rapid deployment across various missions, including homeland air policing, deterrence patrols, and multinational operations. For the German Air Force, the new tranche signifies both continuity and transformation. It leverages decades of operational experience while integrating cutting-edge avionics and electronic warfare systems. This development will result in a more capable, resilient, and interconnected air force, prepared to face the challenges of next-generation aerial warfare.

As Europe's premier fighter program, the Eurofighter stands as a testament to multinational collaboration, technological excellence, and collective security. This new order enables Germany to enhance its air capabilities while ensuring the continued security of European airspace for the foreseeable future.