February 08, 2019
German F-35 decision sacrifices NATO capability for Franco-German industrial cooperation
While the German decision last week to remove the Lockheed Martin F-35 from consideration as a replacement for 90 aging Tornado fighters solidifies Franco-German industrial cooperation, it could come at the expense of making Germany’s Luftwaffe a less capable air force until at least 2040, when a new advanced Franco-German fighter becomes available.
The decision also places German domestic political considerations ahead of Germany’s leadership role in NATO. This would be understandable for a nation that does not perceive a significant military threat from Russia, but it is disturbing for those who emphasize the need to maximize NATO’s deterrent posture in the East. The decision should be reconsidered.
Read the full article in Defense News.
More from CNAS
-
How America Wages Economic Warfare with Eddie Fishman
Podcast
The last two decades have marked a revolution in economic warfare. As the United States has increasingly sought to weaponize the global economy against its adversaries, the wo...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Jim Townsend & Edward Fishman
-
The Key to Ukraine’s Survival
Commentary
No one country in Europe has the financial and industrial resources to replace the United States, but together they can add up to formidable support to Ukraine....
By Celeste Wallander
-
Will Trump Reshape the American Military
Podcast
Last month, the Trump administration carried out a large-scale firing of senior military leaders, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the chief of Naval opera...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Jim Townsend
-
Russia’s Wartime Economy: Resilient or on the Edge of Collapse?
Podcast
Since it invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Russia's economy has proved to be robust despite sanctions, inflation and labour shortages. But how long can it last? Charles Pelleg...
By Richard Connolly
