Bundeswehr: HUGE CUTS in aircraft/helicopter numbers...

[Stratofreighter]

http://www.thelocal.de/national/20100707-28341.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Bundeswehr outlines cuts to military hardware

Published: 7 Jul 10 09:07 CET

Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20100707-28341.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Germany’s armed forces are planning deep cuts to their military hardware to save nearly €10 billion amid intense pressure from the government to rein in spending, the media reported Wednesday.

Experts from the Defence Ministry have drawn up a 23-page list of where cuts can be made – with the brunt of savings being borne by air force equipment, daily Bild reported.

Some 15 Transall military transport planes will be immediately decommissioned and the number of the new Airbus A400M transport planes reduced.

The number of NH90 helicopters that the military plans to buy will be cut from 122 to 80, and the number of Tiger combat helicopters cut from 80 to 40.

One hundred Tornado fighter jets will be retired as soon as possible, leaving just 85 in action.

The Bundeswehr will also forego the last 37 Eurofighters it has ordered, which are still to be delivered.

The Navy will have to relinquish eight frigates, 10 speedboats and 21 Sea King helicopters. These cuts will be made in the medium to long term.

The Navy will order just three, rather than the planned four, new “125-class” frigates.

According to daily Handelsblatt, the unmanned drone craft Talarion, made by EADS, is also on the hit list. And the order for “Puma” tanks will be reduced from 400 to 280, the paper reported.

The Local (news@thelocal.de)

[marcel32us]

The numbers on those aircraft were big enough, so no worries. They could always start by skipping the "+"-signs.

Sorry bout that, couldn't resist.

[K-9]

sounds shocking....

But indeed, they still have enough jets available. 85 tornado's for instance is 2+ wings ?
And the Transall is a pain in the ... to keep flying, so remove 15 of them from duty...
The positive thing is that, depite cuts being made, new aircraft etc will be needed. So new jets to score !

[Stefan]

This is not an official decision yet. The main source for this info is BILD. Decisions are expected later this month.

Then again, the truth is probably not far off.

Then again again, not all info is new. It was known that the final 37 Eurofighter would not enter service, it was known that the number of A400s was to be cut. Ending up with 85 Tornado´s is not new either (23 at AG51, 46 at JBG32 and 16 at Holloman).

The lower number of choppers is new, but not really surprising.

Regards,
Stefan

[Le Addeur noir]

The numbers on those aircraft were big enough, so no worries. They could always start by skipping the "+"-signs.

Sorry bout that, couldn't resist.

You're right!.

The Bundswehr is fast becoming a very pale shadow of it's might during the Cold War.They'll be down to a 4 day working week soon as well.