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Israeli Air Force F-35 jet
Photo: DAVID AZAGURY /EPA-EFE/ REX/ Shutterstock
After a more than turbulent weekend, the traffic light coalition wants to approve the purchase of modern F-35 fighter jets for almost 10 billion euros at the end of the year as planned.
On behalf of the SPD, housekeeper Andreas Schwarz announced in the afternoon that the corresponding proposal from the Ministry of Defense would be decided by the Bundestag.
This means that the Bundeswehr could soon conclude contracts for the modernization of the air force.
The first of 35 US jets are scheduled for delivery in 2027.
The positive vote was preceded by downright chaos in the mega-project.
The traffic light parties had agreed months ago to order the urgently needed F-35 fighter jets in the USA.
However, when serious risks in the implementation of the project were listed in the papers for the budget committee, the householders began to have doubts.
On Monday, State Secretary Thomas Hitschler hurriedly invited people to the telephone switchboard to get their own people on course.
The risks mentioned primarily affect the infrastructure for the new fighter jets that are to be stationed at the Büchel air base.
The Air Force wants to invest almost 700 million euros there for a new runway and the new hangars.
The officials of the military department dutifully wrote in the papers for the Bundestag that the construction measures are extensive and that the Americans also specify very strict safety rules.
And that there are serious doubts that the project can be completed by 2026.
On Monday, the military department tried to downplay the doubts of its own officials.
In addition to Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) herself, Air Force Chief Ingo Gerhartz, Armament State Secretary Benedikt Zimmer and the head of the Bundeswehr's licensing authority also joined the video conference with the householders.
For almost 90 minutes they explained to the doubting MPs that the risks mentioned in the bill were manageable.
Basically, so the line, the project is on the right track.
In fact, the Air Force has already prepared the investments in Büchel as well as possible.
According to a spokesman for the ministry, they want to hire a general contractor who already has experience with military projects and knows the pitfalls.
In addition, there is an intensive exchange with other nations that are also purchasing the F-35 about possible problems in the construction of the infrastructure.
"Currently we don't see a showstopper," said the spokesman, "there is no crisis and no problem with planning."
FDP: Minister Lambrecht must take more care of armament projects
In addition to the construction measures in Büchel, the template also mentions other risks.
It is questionable whether the necessary approvals for operating the F-35 in German airspace will be obtained by 2027.
This means there is a risk “that restrictions in flight operations must be expected”.
Both the head of the Air Force and the licensing authority told MPs at the switch that these problems would be dealt with.
For the minister, the subject of the F-35 still leaves an aftertaste.
It is not only the MEPs who are wondering why they did not accompany the process better and prepare the budget committee before sending the corresponding template.
"The Ministry of Defense identified the risks itself," says Green Housekeeper Sebastian Schäfer, "so a little information would have been helpful for us." Even after the crisis switch on Monday, he still had "unanswered questions."
The FDP also announced that it would keep a close eye on the ministry for the billion-euro project in the future.
Housekeeper Karsten Klein emphasized to the dpa that the F-35 project must have "top priority and the full attention of the minister" from now on.
Any kind of unnecessary consequential costs and delays must be ruled out.
Klein's concern is anything but unjustified.
Years of delays and massive cost increases have so far been part of the standard repertoire for all major armament projects of the Bundeswehr.
In an emergency, the jets are said to carry US nuclear bombs
The acquisition of the F-35 for the Air Force is being closely monitored around the world.
The jets are used to ensure so-called nuclear sharing.
In an emergency, the German fighter jets are said to carry US nuclear bombs stored in Büchel.
The "Tornado" jets currently intended for this purpose are hopelessly outdated and urgently need to be phased out.
Many other NATO nations, like Germany, have decided to buy the F-35.
So far, however, nothing has been heard from these countries about the risks involved in introducing it.
