Berlin acquires 20 additional Eurofighter aircraft.
With the changing times, Germany has decided to purchase F-35 fighter jets from the US. Furthermore, the government is working on improving the Eurofighter. Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured the defense sector of "reliable orders" to boost their production capabilities in Germany and across Europe. "We're determined to maintain a strong air and space industry in Germany and Europe," Scholz said during the opening of the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA).
To that end, he pledged to order an additional 20 Eurofighters, on top of the 38 already in the pipeline. Scholz called this a "defense industry turnaround." He also expressed his intention to explore options for exporting the Eurofighter. "I'm firmly committed to preserving and expanding production capacities in our defense industry," he added.
The Chancellor also highlighted the importance of space, stating that his office would address the issue. He mentioned the upcoming launch of the Ariane-A6 carrier rocket, which will establish Europe's own access to space with a large carrier system. "This will secure our technological sovereignty in a crucial field for long-term competitiveness," he pointed out.
Scholz remarked that having the ability to operate in space and launch satellites into orbit is vital, both commercially and from a defense perspective. In addition, he stressed the need for reliable and technologically advanced small systems to launch satellites. He spoke about the planned first launch of the German Micro-Launcher this year, which aims to launch small satellites into space.
"Europe requires its own satellite mega-constellation for the Internet of Things or for autonomous driving and flying in the future," he asserted, referencing large satellite conglomerates such as Starlink that Elon Musk has built in the US.
