the timing of boeing's statement is noteworthy because it follows news that german government
leaders are reopening a series of checks to the optimal post tornado fleet
the plan is for the plane to be retired by 2030. depending on who is questioned the study could
be a routine exercise in a new government that sets a key decision or the product of
a chain of events that warrants a closer look at alternatives including lockheed martin's s35
boeing is ready to expand its german supplier network if the new berlin government chooses
to buy a version of the f-18 fighter jet to partially replace the country's tornado
the company announced tuesday the german aerospace giant subsidiary said it had pinged more than 10
local companies to support the super hornet and growler variants which germany said years
ago were likely to be purchased as part of a mixed fleet of f-18s and euro fighters
while potential local partners remain unnamed in the statement boeing claims
the outreach will reach a deal worth around 3.5 billion euros 4 billion united states dollars
it also highlights once again germany's unique requirements for a nuclear weapon
capable fighter bomber to perform tornado duties that would mean keeping a fleet of
planes to be loaded with american atomic bombs for use in a hypothetical nuclear conflict
boeing's pitch requires the promise of a state-of-the-art electronic warfare aircraft the
growler paired with a nuclear-capable workhorse the block 3 super hornet that won't break the bank
but unrelated disruptions in the complex franco-german spanish future combat air system
could open the playing field in new ways according to industry officials in berlin aircraft maker de
so france's national lead for the marquis program has so far refused to share access to critical
avionics information for its eventual fcas aircraft dubbed next generation weapon systems
germany has rejected such black box technology with officials arguing that access to the
entire technology package is essential for future maintenance and development work
while some officials say the death of fcas or it split into an additional effort with the promise
of greater cooperation could pave the way for the f-35 at least in the nuclear bombing role
others argue the new fifth generation fighter jet
the fleet would be too shiny for a mission that was so unloved by berlin
so
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