Militärische Luftfahrt 2016

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1AIR POWER DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Air PowerDevelopment Strategy2016


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2 3AIR POWER DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AIR POWER DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Air PowerDevelopment Strategy


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An Airbus A310 MRTT and EUROFIGHTERS mirrored in a helmet visor

(Bundeswehr/Thne)

Contents

1 Preliminary Remarks / Introduction 6

2 Purpose and Objective 8

3 Capability Development Objectives for the Bundeswehr in the Third Dimension 10

a) Importance and Nature of Air Power 10

b) Capability Development Objectives Broad Capability Spectrum in the Alliance 11

4 Priority Areas and Measures to Achieve Objectives 16

a) General 16

b) Strategic Vectors 18

c) Priority Area: Airborne Command and Control 20

d) Priority Area: Airborne Reconnaissance Network 20(part of joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (JISR))

e) Priority Area: Airborne Effects Network 25

f) Priority Area: Future Air Support System 29

5 Aircraft and Weapons Roadmap 32

a) Armaments Policy 32

b) Personnel and Operational Readiness 37

c) Routine Duty, Training and Operations in a Multinational Environment 39

d) Single European Sky / European Military Airworthines s Requirements 39

6 Way Ahead and Roadmap Priorities 40

References 43

Acronyms and Abbreviations 44

Editorial Information 46


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Preliminary Remarks / Introduction 1

The Air Power Development Strategy is a docu-ment issued by the Federal Ministry of Defence(FMoD). It supplements the Aviation Strategy ofthe Federal Government in the field of military avi-ation. While the Aviation Strategy of the FederalGovernment underlines the importance of theGerman aviation industry for the economy, the Air

Power Development Strategy focuses on fulfillingthe mission of the Bundeswehr on the basis of po-litical requirements and ensuring the performanceof the resulting tasks and capability developmentin the third dimension by aircraft.

In addition, armaments, personnel, operational readi-ness, routine duty, and multinational/European coope-ration are seen as contributions of the FMoD to theobjectives of the Federal Aviation Strategy.

The Air Power Development Strategy is based on theDefence Policy Guidelines, the Bundeswehr Concept,and other Bundeswehr documents. The Air PowerDevelopment Strategy is an integral part of the 2014Federal Aviation Strategy. It does not present in advanceany positions of the 2016 White Paper but only descri-bes the current situation. If necessary, it will be updatedfollowing the publication of the White Paper.

The Air Power Development Strategy is an officialBundeswehr document and is applicable to the area ofresponsibility of the FMoD. It is a document designed forexternal use and describes the objectives of the FMoD inthe third dimension.

In particular, the Air Power Development Strategy ispart of the efforts to implement the Strategy Paper ofthe Federal Government on Strengthening the DefenceIndustry in Germany of 8 July 2015.

To ease understanding at the international level, NATOand EU capability specifications and terminology are

used in this document.

[1]Two NH90 helicopters and an am-

bulance during a forward aeromedical

evacuation exercise at Bergen training

area (Bundeswehr/Knig) [2]Maintenan-

ce work after a EUROFIGHTER flight in

the QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) shelter

at mari (Bundeswehr/Brwald) [3]Night

photograph at Fighter Bomber Wing 31Boelcke in Nrvenich (Bundeswehr/Bi-

cker) [4]European air transport training

at the largest air base in Spain (Bundes-

wehr/Wilke) [5]Rollout of Military Airbus

A400M (Bundeswehr/Dpke)

[1]

[2] [3] [4]

[5]


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8 9AIR POWER DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

[1]

[1] Dust landing of an NH90-TTH medium transport helicopter of the Army (Bundeswehr/Vennemann)

[2]A400M large-capacity transport aircraft of Air Transport Wing 62 (Bundeswehr/Hhnel)

[3]EUROFIGHTERS of Tactical Air Force Wing 73 (Bundeswehr/Petersen)

Purpose and Objective 2

The Air Power Development Strategy describesthe capability profile of the Bundeswehr in thethird dimension (i.e. airspace) which is necessary inorder to fulfil national security objectives and out-lines the required capability development, givingspecial attention to multinational cooperation.Ways to achieve objectives are presented on the

basis of current and future aircraft. The Air PowerDevelopment Strategy is an unclassified documentand is intended to inform people about requiredBundeswehr capabilities in the third dimension. Itpresents the position of the FMoD on the require-ments ensuing from NATO and EU planning goalsand thus facilitates the pro-active development ofpossible future multinational cooperation in thefields of armaments, procurement, training, routineduty and operations. It is aimed both at interestedmembers of the public in parliament, industry andlobby groups and at the Bundeswehr itself.

The Air Power Development Strategy also serves as a ba-sis for the development of internal Ministry documents.The detailed roadmaps for the further development ofthe German air component

1

which are based on thesedocuments pursue the capability goals of the Bundes-wehr and take into special consideration the require-ments of the Strategy Paper of the Federal Governmenton Strengthening the Defence Industry in Germany,which is aimed at ensuring multinational cooperationand maintaining and promoting key defence industrialtechnologies in the military aviation industry in Germa-ny and Europe. It provides starting points for definingthe objectives and orientation of the German defenceindustry and for international cooperation in concep-tual, defence technological and operational areas. Forthis purpose, objectives, priority areas and measuresfor achieving the objectives are developed and used to

create comprehensive roadmaps. These include futurepriorities in research and technology; innovative procu-rement, in-service support and operational concepts toimprove operational readiness; and increased multinatio-nal cooperation in Europe.

The Air Power Development Strategy will thus help to

make transparent the complex interrelations of currentand future capabilities and weapon systems of the Bun-deswehr in the air dimension.

The implementation of the Air Power DevelopmentStrategy will take place within the framework of Bun-deswehr processes. It will be based on security requi-rements, political and legal considerations, financialconstraints, industrial development cycles, and marketopportunities.

1

This document deliberately avoids service-specific termino-

logy (e.g. Army aviators, Navy, and Air Force). The term air

component is used as a synonym for military airspace users

from all services.

[2]

[3]

AIR POWER DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY


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Capability Development Objectives for the 3Bundeswehr in the Third Dimension

a) Importance and Nature of Air P ower

Due to its special characteristics such as range, speed,flexibility and endurance, the air component plays animportant role in the portfolio of the armed forces. Itprovides political and military leaders with a wide rangeof options across the entire operational and intensity

spectrum in peacetime, in crises, in armed conflicts, andas part of national and collective defence. Even in smallnumbers, aircraft are capable of delivering precise ef-fects. They often enable the involvement of other forcesor enhance their effect. As the first force to deploy, theair component can exert political influence at variouslevels of escalation and de-escalation at an early stage,even with limited commitment and sometimes evenwithout the need to deploy to the mission area. It canthus make a decisive contribution to Germanys abilityto pursue foreign policy objectives and to deterrence inan Alliance context.

Even in peacetime, the air component performs import-ant national tasks such as the surveillance and policingof German air space and maritime waters, militarysearch and rescue (SAR

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) missions, the support of rescue,evacuation and liberation missions for German citizensand protected persons abroad, and worldwide air trans-port in humanitarian operations.

By providing reconnaissance findings, the air compo-nent makes contributions to a comprehensive situationpicture which can be used as a basis for decisions bypolitical and military leaders.

With its ability to gain and maintain control over anallocated airspace on operations, the air component laysan important foundation for the operational freedomneeded by national and multinational land and seaforces as well as for other governmental and non-go-vernmental organisations

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. Ensuring at least a favourab-le air situation and countering air threats will remain

essential prerequisites for effective and efficient opera-tions and for force protection on the ground and at sea.In addition, airborne weapon systems make importantcontributions to the support of forces on land and onand under the water.

Air transport forces support flexible operations bymaking it possible to rapidly shift the main effort andto project power. The air mobility of land forces, forexample, enables them to take the initiative and torespond quickly over long distances, thus widening therange of options in the factors time, space and force.Additionally, air transport forces are an indispensableelement of the casualty evacuation chain.

With its inherent capabilities, the air component thusmakes a decisive contribution to the success of opera-tions and to the settlement of military confrontations.In the event of an emergency or disaster, they supportinteragency rescue and relief measures for the civilianpopulation and contribute to humanitarian aid efforts,even abroad.

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Bundeswehr aircraft are also used to perform search and rescue services for civil aviation, which is based on a national obliga-

tion to the ICAO and an interministerial agreement between the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure and the

Federal Ministry of Defence.

3The top priority of the air component is to establish air superiority or a desired level of control over an airspace. If they are part

of a maritime task force, their objective is to establish control over an airspace at sea. The air component then maintains control

over the operational area. At the same time, uncommitted forces are employed to protect and support friendly forces on the

ground and at sea. The aim is to create a permissive environment in which control can be established and maintained in the

entire area of operations during a follow-on operation (FoM freedom of movement).

[1]TORNADAOS during an event to celebrate 40 years of the TOR-

NADO (Bundeswehr/Petersen) [2]A tool cabinet is checked by Ger-

man and American soldiers at Holloman Air Force Base (Bundes-

wehr/Schmidt) [3]Airdrop exercise of the trinational Task Force

Cerberus during the multinational exercise Swift Response 2015

(Bundeswehr/Dorow)

b) Capability Development Objectives Broad Ca-pability Spectrum in the Alliance

German forces and their commitments in the context ofNATO and the EU are based on political requirementsand the international responsibility and interests ofGermany.

The air component has great operational relevance andmust at times be employed at short notice. The capabi-lities currently provided by the German air componentmust be maintained within the Alliance, since aban-doned or suspended capabilities require more than adecade to be restored.

Cutting-edge technology is necessary, however, in orderto meet the demanding requirements of the air compo-nent and to maintain an operational advantage. At thesame time, the capabilities of the air component should where appropriate and compatible with nationalinterests be achieved on the basis of cooperation pro-grammes during all activities of the value chain: researchand technology, development and procurement, andoperational use. In this way we can to maintain a broadcapability spectrum in the Alliance.

Requirements must be shaped and technological leapsmust be assessed so that a balance between the qualityand quantity of weapon systems can be achieved in or-der to limit financial, time-related and technological de-velopment risks and to evaluate off-the-shelf solutions.

Reliance on industry should be increased where it isjustifiable from a military point of view, where it ma-kes economic sense, and where synergies can be used.Justifiable from a military point of view means thatresources can be made available for mission accomplish-ment and that operational readiness and flexibility in theAlliance and national interests are not endangered.

[1]

[2]

[3]


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The System-of-Systems Concept

The relevance, priority, development and technicalimplementation of capabilities of the air componentare constantly changing on account of global trends,evolving threats, and political and financial constraints.As a result of long development and in-service phases,

the possibility of adapting the air component to futurechallenges must increasingly be considered when sys-tems are being planned and developed. This will ensurethe rapid and timely introduction of necessary technicalsolutions.

The objective of the capability development of the Ger-man air component is therefore to establish an interope-rable system of systems that makes it possible to achievethe required capabilities in an integrated multinationalsetting. A system of systems, in which platforms aremainly equipped with modular components (particularlyarmaments, sensors, and mission equipment), ensuresconsiderable flexibility and increases the potential ofmultinational cooperation, e.g. by providing an additi-onal opt-in option for smaller partners. A system ofsystems thus makes it possible to meet changing requi-rements despite prolonged armaments cycles

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.

To ensure the efficient use of available resources, effortsmust be made to limit the number of different aircrafttypes according to the principle as many as necessaryand as few as possible. This principle does have itslimits, however. We must carefully weigh up the tasksof national defence and collective defence against

international crisis and conflict prevention measuresand against available resources. Wherever requirementspermit, it is useful to combine several capabilities on asingle platform (multirole design). Capabilities providedby aircraft should also overlap. This results in equipmentthat is coordinated within the Alliance and that in itsentirety acts as a deterrent (in this case, quantity canalso be a quality). It should be noted that a capability isavailable for operations only when quality requirementsand quantity requirements have been fulfilled (e.g. ade-quate sustainability), personnel have been appropriatelytrained, and training facilities and maintenance resour-ces are available in sufficient quantities.

The technical implementation of the requirements tobe met by the air component and the cutting-edge

technology necessary for maintaining an operationallyusable advantage necessitate an enormous financialexpenditure that must be assessed in terms of operatio-nal effectiveness (costs versus benefits). Interoperabilitywithin the system of systems and with allied forces is afundamental prerequisite for aircraft design.

Emphasis is also placed on the flexibility and sustaina-bility of weapon systems. In this regard, the availabilityof aircraft during operations and on routine duty mustbe increased to achieve a maximum level of operationalreadiness for both personnel and materiel/equipment.As a result of the increased dependence of weapon sys-tems on IT systems and in view of the increasing threatsin cyberspace, the robustness and IT security of weaponand employment systems are of fundamental importan-ce.

The complexity of weapon systems and their use inan integrated system will necessitate their inclusion ina common architecture. In addition, technical/logisticmanagement and supply during routine duty and onoperations also influence the performance of systems.For the system-of-systems concept to be implementedproperly, systems must be able to communicate in nearreal time and the required data bandwidth (for encryp-ted data too) must be provided and protected.

4The following trends must be considered when analysing the threat of potential adversaries: enhanced air defence systems (an-

ti-access, area denial, 5th generation combat aircraft), low observability, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS), hypersonic effectors,

proliferation, hybrid warfare, cyberattack, automation, UAS including swarming.

[2]

[1]EUROFIGHTER of Tactical Air Force Wing 73 Steinhoff with

anniversary markings (Bundeswehr/Petersen) [2]Demonstration du-

ring SAR MEET 2008 with a SEA KING MK 41 Navy helicopter and

the FGS Berlin sea rescue cruiser (Bundeswehr/Heyng)

[1]


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Prioritisation of German Capability Contributionsin the Air Dimension

Capabilities to be kept available by German forces aregrouped into the following categories:

MUST

legal and political requirements must be fulfilled;capabilities to be provided at the national level (e.g.the standing operational task of the surveillance andpolicing of German airspace and waters, rescue,evacuation and rescue of German citizens and pro-tected persons abroad (personnel recovery, noncom-batant evacuation operations)), support of specialforces, capabilities for tasks based on national andinternational agreements on search and rescue ser-vices over land and sea;

contributions for NATO and the EU based on po-litical requirements wherever possible as part ofmultinational cooperation;

laying the foundations for operations (e.g. protec-tion from airborne threats; ensuring air transportunder threat, including the tactical air mobility ofland forces, strategic and tactical aeromedical eva-cuation);

protection and support of employed forces, e.g.within the context of joint fire support (JFS) andair-surface integration (ASI);

provision of information gathered by reconnaissance.

SHOULD

SHOULD

capabilities that are already provided to a sufficientextent by allies or capabilities whose availability foran operation can be ensured within the warningtime;

overlapping capabilities within the context of theflexible and efficient employment of weapon sys-tems.

CAN

capabilities that can be provided by commercial con-tractors (e.g. air transport services currently providedby SALIS (oversized/outsized cargo), parliamentaryflights).

In the following, necessary developments in the domainsof command and control, reconnaissance, ef-fects and support will be considered, and possibleroadmaps for currently available and future airborne we-apon systems (including jet combat aircraft, unmannedaerial vehicles (UAV), helicopters and other fixed-wingaircraft) will be presented.

Aerial photograph taken from a Learjet of the GFD (Bundeswehr/Bicker)


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Priority Areas and Measures 4to Achieve Objectives

a) General

Over the past 20 years, important decisions have beenmade about platforms and capabilities (e.g. EUROFIGH-TER, A400M, NH90, etc.). These decisions will continueto shape military aviation in Europe for decades tocome. The Bundeswehr nevertheless also has weaponsystems that, after many years of successful service,will reach the scheduled end of their service lives withinthe next 10 years (e.g. CFI-53 etc.). Important decisionsabout the future must therefore be made in good time.Early planning is necessary in order to keep pace withtechnological developments and to avoid temporarycapability gaps and the costly maintenance of agingaircraft and aircraft subsystems.

The aim of the following sections is to identify decisionsthat must be made in the near future, to make criteriatransparent, and to provide a basis on which decisionscan be made (e.g. on the successor to the SEA LYNXshipboard helicopter or to the CH-53 heavy transporthelicopter). For weapon systems about which a decisionhas already been made, the strategy mainly explainshow these systems are to be further developed throug-hout their scheduled service life and when the earlydevelopment of new capabilities or follow-on systemsshould be initiated. The continuous development ofexisting weapon systems ensures that the operationalreadiness of aircraft can be maintained at a high tech-nological level throughout their service lives and makesit possible to respond quickly to changing requirements.

The design of weapon systems must therefore allow forthe possibility of adapting to future challenges.

On the other hand, the Air Power Development Strategy,which embraces a period of several decades due to thelives of systems, must also provide strategic flexibility,i.e. it must acknowledge the dynamics of continuoustechnological developments and changing security para-meters. The Air Power Development Strategy thereforeclarifies the decision-making parameters and criteria inparticular for future capabilities and weapon systemsand identifies the important decisions to be made.

The Strategy thus particularly emphasises the closeconnection between the multinational orientation of theBundeswehr and the definition of a Future Combat AirSystem (FCAS). Both elements, i.e. long-term partners-hips with other nations for sharing and developingcapabilities in the air dimension and the organisation ofthe FCAS are, for the Bundeswehr with its multinationalapproach, closely connected and of strategic relevancefor medium- to long-term decisions about capabilitiesand solutions.

The following sections will cover important strategicvectors and overriding policies concerning technolo-gical capabilities, industrial resources, multinationality,

unmanned aviation, and the required parallel operationof two types of combat aircraft.

German and French Transall C160 aircraft and a CASA CA/235 at Toulouse mi-

litary airport during the German-French airborne exercise Colibri in southern

France (Bundeswehr/Neumann)

Participants in the National General/Admiral Staff Officers Course (Bundeswehr/Lang)


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b) Strategic Vectors

Technological Capabilities and Industrial Resources

The strategy for further developing capabilities, forexample third-generation (TORNADO) and fourth-ge-neration (EUROFIGHTER) tactical combat aircraft, in

an integrated Future Combat Air System (FCAS) withvarious kinds of possible new platforms (e.g. Next Gene-ration Weapon System (NextGenWS)) has a considerableinfluence on the required technological capabilities andindustrial resources in the air dimension.

Parallel operation of two different combat aircraft typeswith partially overlapping capabilities ensures operatio-nal flexibility and offers an opportunity to successivelyreplace aircraft types without temporarily losing import-ant capabilities.

The need for key defence industrial technologies andindustrial resources will therefore be determined in theforeseeable future by the capabilities required in theFCAS. For this reason, selected key national defence in-dustrial technologies should be promoted for the furthertechnological development of the EUROFIGHTER andthe maturation of technology for a Next Generation We-apon System (NextGenWS). On account of the increa-sing importance of cyberspace, this explicitly includeskey technologies in the fields of information technologyand cyber power.

Multinationality

RFor decades, armament projects for the air dimensionhave primarily been multinational. Financial constraintsand the increasing complexity of weapon systems meanthat this will remain imperative in future. Lessons le-arned from current cooperation projects show, however,that we must rethink our approach.

The central element of this new approach to multina-tional cooperation is the assumption of a lead role bya single nation for each platform. This lead role is notnecessarily linked to a dominant share of the work andmay also be justified by the contribution of one or morekey technologies. What is instead crucial in this contextis control over a process. For reasons of industrial, eco-nomic or Alliance policy, compromises must therefore

be reached on other projects. This means, however, thata nation must relinquish a leading role in other fields oftechnology. Although there are often diverging interestsat play, work should ideally be divided according to thestrengths of the various countries; the distribution ofwork among countries should not increase the overallcomplexity of development and production. In additi-

on to the lead nation principle and work sharing, it isimportant that there are uniform concepts and requi-rements so that returns to scale and synergies can beachieved. The development of different platform versi-ons for different nations will not help us reach our goals.

This is why Germany has assumed the lead nation rolefor the development of a medium-altitude long-en-durance (MALE) class unmanned aerial vehicle in coope-ration with the partner nations France, Italy and Spain.Further cooperation on this project must be jointlynegotiated.

From the perspective of the Ministry, a Next GenerationWeapon System in the FCAS network can only be crea-ted in a multinational European context. A national soloeffort is no longer possible for such complex weaponsystems. The FMoD will soon initiate an early dialogue inEurope on common objectives, roadmaps, and options.

A European architecture of an FCAS network providesthe potential required for efficient capability develop-ment and the effective maintenance of technology wi-thout confronting individual nations with unsolvable andin particular budgetary challenges. At the same time,smaller countries in particular are given the opportunityto participle in the FCAS network with small fleets. Theresult with regard to industry will be a targeted con-centration of European technology development on thefuture challenges of modern weapon systems.

The future position of the FMoD on maintaining thecapabilities of airborne weapon systems in the long termwill be developed in the context of the planned multi-national discussion on an FCAS network and will havean influence on capability development and industrialpolicy.

A further element of the new approach is the use ofcommon legal regulatory frameworks for the certificati-on and employment of personnel and materiel

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.

Only in this way can we ensure that multinationalitygoes beyond common development and procurementand has a successful future.

Unmanned Aerial Systems

When it comes to unmanned aerial systems, our objecti-ve is operate such systems in European airspace in orderto ensure training and mission flight operations. Withinthe scope of risk management, the implementation ofcivilian equipment and certification requirements must

be considered along with operational requirements.

5For example, the use of EMAR/DEMAR (European Military Airworthiness Requirements / German Military Airworthiness Require-ments) in cooperation projects at European level.

[1]Luna short-range reconnaissance drone. Reconnaissance

information gathered within a radius of 65 kilometres is trans-

mitted to a ground control station (Bundeswehr/Schreiner)

[2] [3] Simulator of a P3-C ORION (Bundeswehr/Wilke)

[1] [2]

[3]


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c) Priority Area: Airborne Command and C ontrol

Germany has no national airborne command andcontrol capabilities. Instead it participates in the NATOAirborne Early Warning & Control (NAEW&C

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)

system.The planned modernisation and service-life extension ofthis fleet (currently scheduled to end in 2025) will ensurethe provision of this capability until 2035.

Preparatory measures are currently being carried outwhich are to be completed by the end of this decade.For the period from 2035 onwards, NATO is already con-sidering a successor system and Germany will play anactive part in this process. In mid-2016, a decision mustbe taken on the beginning of the concept phase, whichwill include studies in preparation for a selection deci-sion document. The decision on realisation is expectedto be made in 2019. The FMoD intends to participatein the successor system project. Its decision will dependon the design, cost, and multinational participation. Acombination with the capabilities of other systems, e.g.the NATO AGS(Alliance Ground Surveillance) system,which is still in the buildup phase, will be considered inthe studies (see the section on strategic reconnaissance).

d) Priority Area: Airborne Reconnaissance Network(part of joint intelligence, surveillance and re-connaissance (JISR))

This section deals with aircraft that are mainly used forreconnaissance. Many aircraft that are primarily usedfor delivering effects also provide capabilities for thereconnaissance network. These aircraft are only menti-oned here and will be addressed in more detail in thesection on the effects network.

The reconnaissancenetwork comprisesaircraft that com-plement one ano-ther with differentsensors and areasof employment.

They make a subs-tantial contributionto information andeffects superiority inthe fields of imageryintelligence

7

, signalsintelligence

8

andhydroacoustic intelli-

gence. They make available a broad spectrum of currentand high-quality information and provide an importantbasis for effectively meeting the information needs ofpolitical leaders and the Bundeswehr. In addition, theyeffectively support tactical and operational commandand control.

These reconnaissance capabilities must meet the follo-wing requirements:

they must operate at long range, deep in thetheatre, and at short and medium range;

they must have a high availability rate and along endurance and must be able to respondrapidly;

they must operate in all weather at any time ofthe day or night;

we must have many different systems, theymust be adaptable and have new sensors.

The use of unmanned aerial systems9

is becoming moreand more important particularly in the reconnaissancenetwork. They have long endurance, which is required

for reconnaissance and surveillance, and they reduce thedanger to own personnel by the physical separation ofaircraft and crew. Unmanned aerial systems can cur-rently only be used to a limited extent because they areunable to protect themselves from, for example, enemyair forces and ground-based longer-range air defencesystems. For this reason, robust manned systems will

therefore remain necessary in the Alliance for tactical airreconnaissance (TAR) in high-intensity conflicts.

In addition to aircraft and sensors, particular importanceis also attached to near-real-time protected and securedata transfer (including beyond-line-of-sight systems),partially/fully automated processing and preparation,the storage and distribution of obtained data, and thenetworking of individual systems. We must not onlyprovide the bandwidths required for data transfer butalso protect against and counter cyber attacks. We mustalso ensure that threat information is quickly incorpora-ted into the warning and protection systems of airbornesystems.

To ensure unrestricted flight training and operations, un-manned aerial systems must be fully integrated into thegeneral airspace and must acquire the necessary flightcertification. Legal requirements for the unrestrictedoperation of UAS in general airspace must be clarified,and synergies must be examined that may result fromthe development of procedures and technical solutionsfor the civilian use of UAS.

JISR and the associated (sub-)capabilities are part of themultinational studies conducted within the scope of theframework nation concept.

NATO E-3A aircraft (AWACS) in parking position (front). In the background, a KC-135 tanker aircraft of the US Air National Guard Oklahoma

(Bundeswehr/Twardy)

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NAEW&C is a NATO capability for air surveillance and the command and control of air operations which is based on a NATO

owned and operated fleet of E-3A aircraft. There are no plans to build up a purely national capability.

7

IMINT - Imagery Intelligence8SIGINT comprises electronic intelligence (ELINT) and communications intelligence (COMINT)

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Systems with a maximum takeoff weight of more than 150 kg


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SIGINT

The Bundeswehr currently has a capability gap in thearea of airborne, long-range SIGINT.

Such systems detect military radio traffic and radar emis-sions which are then evaluated to compile an electronic

situation picture and to obtain data for self-protectionsystems. They thus make a substantial contribution tothe early recognition of crises, assessments of the situati-on in the scope of crisis prevention, and assessmentsof the threat situation in areas of interest and potentialtheatres of operations. They thus serve to protect sol-diers on operations.

Closing this capability gap continues to be an urgentrequirement, but it cannot be achieved in the shortterm since the introduction of the EURO HAWK UAS,which was originally designed for this purpose, has beenstopped. Closing this capability gap is a high priority andis to be achieved by examining the procurement and useof the TRITON UAV, in particular the aspects of flightcertification and the possibility of operation in interna-tional airspace

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. The Integrated SIGINT System (ISIS) willbe installed in the carrier platform. The selection decisi-on will likely be taken in late 2016. The first systems areexpected to be delivered at the beginning of the nextdecade.

SIGINT requires a receiving system with a combinationof several highly sensitive broadband and narrowbandcomponents in order to fulfil its different functions.Additionally, it requires CPU-intensive evaluation algo-rithms. Such a SIGINT system concerns national interestsin sensitive areas, comprises core capabilities of Germanindustry, and constitutes a key national defence industri-al technology.

In addition, Germany is participating in the NATOcapability for imagery, standoff capable and wide-areareconnaissance (NATO AGS). The NATO AGS system

produces optical reconnaissance results (images) bymeans of a radar sensor. The NATO AGS programmeincludes plans for the operation of RO-4 GLOBAL HAWKHALE UAS. The decision on a possible additional natio-nal capability in this area will be taken when the plat-form decision on a SIGINT system is made. The possibleintroduction of such a capability is not planned until themiddle of the next decade.

Operational and Tactical Reconnaissance

The contract for the HERON 1 operator solution (inter-mediate solution) in Afghanistan has been extendeduntil February 2016, and an optional extension of oneyear has been prepared. To develop this capability and toincrease its flexibility, we must replace this system whileincreasing the capability (including armament options)both in terms of quantity and quality.

For this purpose, Germany has assumed the lead rolein the development of a European MALE UAS(medi-um-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial system)as a target solution. In 2015, preparations for a jointdefinition study were started in cooperation with France,Italy and Spain. The objective of this study is to achieve amultinational consensus on functional requirements onthe basis of sound cost estimates

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. This also contributesto implementing a goal laid down in the current coa-lition agreement, namely to advance the development

of a European unmanned aerial vehicle. The system willonly be procured, however, when the capability require-ments are met and when operation in general airspaceis possible without any major restrictions. In this context,the foundations must be laid for the certification andoperation of UAS in European airspace.

Since this solutionwill not be available before themiddle of the next decade, there are plans to use acommercially available system until then as an interimsolution for Bundeswehr operations. Options for reali-sing such an approach are currently being examined.

For unmanned aerial vehicles, the human-in-the-loopprinciple, i.e. the possibility of immediate operator inter-vention, must be ensured at all times. The stance of theFederal Government will continue to be that strikes byunmanned aerial vehicles must always be under humancontrol and must be restricted to operations mandatedby the German Bundestag.

From 2019 onwards, the medium range tactical UAScurrently used by the land forces(KZO, LUNA) will bereplaced by a successor system. On account of theircapability profile, they fit exactly into the reconnaissan-ce architecture of the Bundeswehr. They complementthe other airborne reconnaissance systems (long-range,deep theatre) and provide the tactical commander onthe ground with direct access to airborne reconnaissan-ce resources with highly flexible and robust multispectralsensors.

The naval forces are currently working on a UAS projectfor reconnaissance and identification in maritime areasof operation. This project focuses on target reconnais-sance, target identification and effects assessment

in operations against surface or land targets. It is anintegral part of the K130 class corvettes. The system isscheduled to enter service from 2018 onwards.

The capability to perform tactical penetratingimaging reconnaissance in the depth of the theatreof operations also in threat situations (TAR) is ensuredby the TORNADO until the end of its service life. In themedium term, we intend to integrate a laser designatorpod with an enhanced sensor system into the EURO-FIGHTER in order to further improve its multirole capabi-lity, to maintain our reconnaissance capability, and thusto increase flexibility on operations.

The SEA LYNX MK88 shipboard helicopter has surfacereconnaissance capabilities based on radar andinfrared sensors. A dipping sonar enables the helicop-ter to perform hydroacoustic subsurface reconnaissance.Since certain systems will become obsolete in the middleof the next decade, capability maintenance studies havebeen initiated. The introduction of a follow-on solutionis scheduled for the first half of the next decade. Whenwe assess possible solutions for procurement, we mustalso examine to what extent functions of the currentshipboard helicopter can be fulfilled or complementedby unmanned systems.

The capability for long-range maritime reconnais-sance in surface warfare(IMINT, ELINT) is provided bythe P-3C ORION aircraft, which uses radar, electronicsupport measures (ESM) and infrared sensors. Followingthe decision to maintain this capability and to take themeasures required for this purpose (replacement ofwings, maintenance of flight worthiness, and replace-ment of the tactical management system), the P-3C ORI-ON will be kept in service until 2035. There are plans to

10

In the event that a Triton-based system is not feasible, two manned solutions based on a Global 5000 will be considered. One

of the proposed solutions involves the Integrated SIGINT System (ISIS), which was dev eloped for the EURO HAWK. Another pro-

posal concerns a nondevelopmental item.11Spain joined this project in October 2015.

Employment of LUNA (airborne unmanned short-ran-

ge reconnaissance system) at Observation Post (OP)

North (Bundeswehr/Bienert)


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expand its capability spectrum (e.g. wide-area reconnais-sance) by the integration of additional reconnaissanceresources. When it comes to subsurface reconnaissance,the aircraft must be equipped with bistatic and mul-tistatic radar components so that it can be employed inwide-area antisubmarine warfare (ASW). In the long run,this capability should be maintained in the framework of

multinational cooperation.

The NH90 NTH SEA LION helicopter, which will enterservice in 2019, will be equipped with appropriatesensors to enable it to contribute to the generation ofsurface pictures.

In addition to the capabilities mentioned above, pos-sible sensor platforms and relay stations (stratosphericplatforms) will also be considered with regard to future

developments. If necessary, these platforms can comple-ment the current capability portfolio in the third dimen-sion in addition to MALE and HALE UAS.

e) Priority Area: Airborne Effects Network

In the long term, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS)will form the backbone of the effects network. TheFCAS is not an individual aerial platform or an indivi-dual aircraft but rather a system of systems which, inits final development stage, will deliver airborne effects

across the entire capability and intensity spectrum. As asystem-of-systems approach, the FCAS encompasses thecapabilities of existing weapon systems (e.g. EUROFIGH-TER, TORNADO, TIGER for Germany) and future weaponsystems (e.g. MALE UAS and NextGenWS). The FMoDintends to define initial national concepts and operati-onal requirements for an FCAS and thus also for a NextGeneration Weapon System in 2016. This will providea basis for multinational cooperation and for an assess-ment of joint capability requirements and their technolo-gical feasibility. Initial discussions with European partnersare scheduled for 2016.

The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) must, for examp-le, cover the following tasks and types of operation:

provision of the quick reaction alert (intercept)element (QRA(I)) as part of the standing operational task of surveillance and protection ofGerman airspace;

defensive counterair (DCA) and offensive coun-terair (OCA), including suppression of enemy airdefence (SEAD);

air interdiction (AI), close air support (CAS), jointtime sensitive targeting (JTST), and anti-surfacewarfare (ASuW);

intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance(ISR); see also reconnaissance network.

Apart from platforms, the right mix of weapons isrequired to be able to achieve appropriate effects and toprevent unintended (collateral) damage. This mix mustbe ensured by a cross-platform armament concept forairborne weapon systems in the FCAS.

In the foreseeable future, the EUROFIGHTERwill be a

mainstay of Germanys manned combat aircraft fleetand will be an important German contribution to theFCAS. According to current plans, the delivery of theseaircraft will be completed by 2018. The EUROFIGHTERis an important capability platform of the Bundeswehrfor ensuring the sovereignty of national airspace (QRA(I))and conducting defensive counter-air operations.

In order to fulfil the QRA(I) task, to ensure educationand flight training activities, and to meet internationaloperational commitments, Tranche 1 should be useduntil it is no longer cost effective in the context of ope-rational requirements.

With the GBU-48, the EUROFIGHTER12

will have an initialcapability for offensive counter-air operations. This is aninitial step towards multi-role capability.

With this in mind, we must augment the capabilities ofTranche 2 and Tranche 3A EUROFIGHTER aircraft. Thisincrease in capability should primarily be coordinatedwith the EUROFIGHTER partner nations on the basisof a common configuration. There are plans for im-provements in air/ground capability(including theintegration of additional weapons, such as a short-ran-ge missile by 2020 and a medium-range weapon from2020 onwards), improvements of command and controlassets and, in conjunction with the TORNADO, contri-butions to the suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD)and to anti-surface warfare (ASuW). The EUROFIGHTERwill likely not be fitted with special weapons for theseroles before 2025. The decision on this matter must beconsidered in the context of developments concerningthe NextGenWS.

The multirole capabilityof the EUROFIGHTER must th-erefore be enhanced. For this reason, it will be equippedwith new sensors (AESA radar, LDP with reconnaissance

12Tranche 2 and Tranche 3A

SEA LYNX shipboard helicopter on board the

frigate FGS Bayern during Operation Atalanta

( Bundeswehr/Bartsch)


14/25


component).

In order to sustain the capabilities of the EUROFIGHTERwell beyond 2040 so that it can be a mainstay of theFCAS, we must assume that Tranche 2 and 3A aircraftwill have a life of more than 25 years. In the next twoyears, we must consider and analyse with our part-

ner nations the technological possibilities of a mid-lifeupgrade (MLU) and a life extension programme (LEP) inorder to sustain capabilities (e.g. through obsolescencemanagement and the adaptation of avionics to futuretechnologies) and the related costs. We must also con-sider the future use of the NextGenWS, which will bedeveloped on a multinational basis, as a complementaryplatform to the EUROFIGHTER in the FCAS. With regardto the current EUROFIGHTER project phase, multinati-onalisation must be further increased in the short andmedium term in order to increase the user group forfurther development and operation and thus to achieveeffects of scale and to ensure technologies and industrialcapacities. The FMoD will support the participation ofnew partners.

With the upgrade of the TORNADOto ASSTA 313

, thefoundation has been laid for sustaining the operationalcapability of this weapon system. With the augmentati-

on of capabilities of the EUROFIGHTER, the future focusof the TORNADO will be on SEAD and the employmentof heavy weapons (e.g. GBU-24 and MAW TAURUS

14

).

According to current plans, the TORNADO will bekept in service until the mid-2020s. In order to provideenough time for the development and procurement of a

successor system and to maintain the capability spec-trum within the context of FCAS, studies are being car-ried out to determine whether the in-service period canbe prolonged by stretching the remaining flight hours orwhether a service life extension of the TORNADO untilthe mid-2030s is possible. The studies are assessing thetechnological risks and economic efficiency of these op-tions with a view to reducing risks. A decision will likelybe made in 2016.

With its AGM-88B Block III A guided missile (HARM),the TORNADO is the mainstay of the SEAD capability.Among other things, this missile no longer meets therequirements with regard to target location mechanismsand intelligent terminal control to increase hit probabi-lity.

Depending on the decision to extend the service lifeof the TORNADO, it may be necessary to introduce a

follow-on solution for the engagement of ground-basedair defence systems.

A NextGenWS is envisaged as a future complementarysystem to the EUROFIGHTER in the FCAS network and insome areas as a potential successor of the TORNADO. Itmust thus be geared to the future requirements of air-

borne weapon systems. A focus must be placed on pos-sible options for using capabilities in an Alliance context.The resulting capability requirements should be definedin a complementary approach, taking into account theaugmentation of capabilities for the EUROFIGHTER, thecapabilities of the MALE UAS target solution, technolo-gical developments, trends, and threats.

The NextGenWScould be unmanned, manned oroptionally manned. This decision should be taken on thebasis of further analyses and in the context of a Europe-an solution.

In order to seamlessly maintain the current capabilitiesof the Bundeswehr, the initial operational capability ofa NextGenWS must be achieved before the TORNADOreaches the end of its service life. In accordance withthe strategic vector, this should be implemented in amultinational context. With the definition of conceptsand operational requirements for an FCAS in 2016, thefoundations will be laid for European cooperation.

When it comes to attack helicopters, the capabilitiesof the TIGERmultirole support helicopter must be main-tained and extended in the long term. Initial steps in thisdirection are currently being examined in the multinatio-nal TIGER Capability Assurance Programme (TIGER CAP).On account of its sensor and vision systems, its missi-on-tailored modular weapon systems, its ability to fightby day and night and in adverse weather conditions,the TIGER is an important mainstay of air support forground forces and of airmobile operations. The fieldedgun, rocket and missile armaments must be regeneratedin the medium to long term in the scope of capabilitymaintenance (e.g. HOT guided missile, STINGER air-to-air missile system) or must be improved in the scope ofcapability augmentation.

The TIGER capability platform will continue to cover thefollowing tasks and types of operation:

support of ground forces operations;

integration into the JFS system (RW-CAS,FAC(A))

15

, escort of ground forces andhelicopters;

antitank defence;

armed reconnaissance;

engagement of high-value targets.

15Rotary wing close air support, forward air controller (airborne).

[1]A TIGER ASGARD-F attack helicopter landing at Camp Wer-

deck (Bundeswehr/Vennemann) [2]Aerial photograph taken from a

Learjet of the GFD (Bundeswehr/Bicker)

[2]

[1]

13Evolution soft- and hardware TORNADO.

14

An integration of a long range Air to Surface stand off missile (like for example MAW TAURUS) is currently not intended for the

EUROFIGHTER.


15/25


Combat aircraft, UAS and attack helicopters com-plement one another. Combat aircraft can engage tar-gets at longer distances more rapidly, and the weaponsof combat aircraft usually deliver greater and moreextensive effects than the weapons of attack helicopters.Combat helicopters play an important role in operations,because they are able to move through obstructed ter-rain and thus, for example, fly under enemy air defence.In its role as a forward air controller (airborne) (FAC(A)),an attack helicopter can also designate targets for com-bat aircraft.

The SEA LYNX MK88A will remain in service until themiddle of the next decade. As an integrated detection,transport and weapon carrier component, it providesimportant sub-capabilities of the overall combat vesselsystem. These sub-capabilities include

special maritime reconnaissance (surface andsubsurface maritime picture);

IMINT;

subsurface warfare;

surface warfare;

maritime tactical mobility support (tactical support for specialised/special forces).

These sub-capabilities must soon be ensured by a sui-table successor system. The floating platforms currentlyin use and multinational cooperation should also beconsidered in the planning process.

The engagement spectrum of the P-3C ORIONagainstsubsurface targets must also be maintained beyond theforeseeable end of use of the MK46 torpedo. In thiscontext, the capability to engage underwater targetsin shallow water by means of depth charges must beachieved if appropriate, on a multinational basis. Aspart of wing replacement, initial foundations are beinglaid for equipping this aircraft with guided missiles foruse against surface and land targets.

f) Priority Area: Future Air Support System

This support system comprises rotary-wing and fi-xed-wing air transport assets. Studies must be con-ducted to determine what support capacities will haveto be provided in and by the Bundeswehr in future. Thefocus will remain on air transport activities under threat,including the tactical air mobility of land forces, aerome-dical evacuation, noncombatant evacuation operations,personnel recovery, direct tactical support of specialoperations forces (SOF-Air), and air-to-air refuelling.Airlift requirements in non-threat scenarios can be metby commercial providers to a limited extent.

The A400Mtransport aircraft, which is currently ente-ring service and will continue to be fielded until 2019,will form the backbone of the German air transport fleetfor the coming years. The A400M is designed for airtransport, including the transport of forces for verticalinsertion, aeromedical evacuation, and aerial refuellingtasks

16

, and will replace the C-160 Transall in the fore-seeable future. There is at present no need to procureanother transport aircraft of this class.

According to information provided by the manufacturer,there will be significant delays in the delivery and techni-cal capability augmentation of the A400M compared tooriginal planning. For this reason, the in-service phaseof the C-160 TRANSALL will be extended with improvedself-protection equipment in order to sustain the protec-ted tactical airlift capability until 2021.

To maintain the capability cluster provided by the A310MRTT, (including airlift and aerial refuelling), the

procurement of an alternative system is currently beingexamined. Participation in the joint procurement ofA330 MRTT, which is planned by the Netherlands, Bel-gium, Norway and Poland, with a view to establishinga Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet(MMF) is currently being given primary consideration.The objective is a multinational solution. A quantitativeextension of capabilities, particularly in the fields of aeri-al refuelling and troop airlift, is required in the Alliance.

Preparations are currently being made for the creationof a future heavy transport helicopter, as the CH-53will presumably reach the end of its service life in thenext decade. The selection decision is scheduled forlate 2016, the contract will be concluded in 2018, anddelivery will commence in 2022. The multirole heavytransport helicopter will contribute to airlift, includingthe air mobility of land forces, aeromedical evacuation,the support of special operations forces, and personnelrecovery including CSAR and noncombatant evacuationoperations.

The NH90 is expected to be completely fielded by 2021.The land forces will thus have a tactical air mobility assetfor several years to come. The possibility of extendingthe capability of the NH90 in the areas of aerial com-mand and control and manned-unmanned teaming withUAS must be examined. To ensure the long-term capa-bility of the NH90, appropriate modernisation program-mes (a mid-life upgrade (MLU) or a capability assuranceprogramme (CAP)) are being prepared for the secondhalf of the coming decade.

16

The ae rial refuelling of helicopters is envisaged, and possibilities are currently being examined for the technical realisation of

this capability.

CH-53GE transport helicopter in very-low-level flight (Bundeswehr/Vennemann)Winching a person with the SEA LYNX shipboard helicopter (Bundeswehr/Bienert)


16/25

30 AIR POWER DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

In late 2015 and early 2016, the first light utility heli-copters for special operations forces (LUH SOF)will befielded. This helicopter will be used for direct tacticalsupport of special operations forces (SOF-Air). In future,additional priority areas in the capability spectrum ofhelicopters could be opened up by the LUH in order tocomplement the capabilities of major helicopter systemsand to effectively extend the overall capability spectrumof helicopters. Weapon systems that are already in ser-vice or currently being fielded should be given particularconsideration, since existing logistic and training systemscan be used.

The SEA KING system of the naval forces will be repla-ced by the NH90 SEA LIONnaval transport helicopterfrom 2019 to 2023. It will be employed as a shipboardhelicopter on Class 702 combat support ships, and itscapability spectrum will cover special maritime re-connaissance (surface maritime picture), IMINT (in-the-atre imagery intelligence), anti-surface warfare (ASuW,short and very short range and confined and shallowwaters (CSW)), maritime tactical mobility support (tacti-cal support of specialised/special operations forces) and

air transport (heliborne airlift, airborne tactical supportof special operations forces, tactical aeromedical evacua-tion). In addition, it will ensure land-based search andrescue operations over the North and Baltic Seas.

With regard to the tasks of aeromedical evacuation andescorted air medical evacuation, the FMoD has proposedan initiative for establishing a multinational helicopterunit in Germany under the Framework Nations Concept.Initial contacts with potential partner nations have beenmade, a decision on the establishment of a multinationalhelicopter unit (MHU) will be taken no later than 2018,and the realisation phase will start in 2022. The partici-pation of interested partner nations would be based onthe principle of burden sharing and would allow varioustypes of involvement, such as reliance on 22 optionalGerman NH90 helicopters or the provision of helicoptersfrom participating nations.

In the long run, the use of unmanned and optionallymanned systems for logistic support tasks must beexamined with a view to extending support capabilities.

[1]H145M LUH SOF helicopter, German Air Force

design. At its facility in Donauwrth, Airbus Helicop-

ters (formerly Eurocopter) presents the light utility he-

licopter in hangar 9 on the occasion of its initial flight

on 27 November 2014 (Bundeswehr/Vennemann)

31AIR POWER DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY


17/25


[1]Federal Minister of Defence Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Norwegian Minister of Defence Ine

Marie Eriksen Sreide, and Dutch Minister of Defence Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (from left to right) visit the NATO Very High Rea-

diness Joint Task Force exercise NOBLE JUMP 2015 (Bundeswehr/Kazda)

[2]Testing of the Taurus cruise missile in South Africa (Bundeswehr/Adolfs) [3] Postflight inspection of a turbine (SKA/IMZBw)

[4] Borescope inspection of a TORNADO engine at Holloman Air Force Base (Bundeswehr/Schmidt)

[5]Afterburner test of a EUROFIGHTER of Tactical Air Force Wing 31 Boelcke (Bundeswehr/Hohlbein)

Aircraft and Weapons Roadmap 5

The goals, priority areas, and measures presentedin the preceding chapters set the course for indus-try in the context of a broader whole-of-govern-ment implementation of the Federal GovernmentStrategy Paper for Strengthening the DefenceIndustry.

a) Armaments Policy

German system suppliers as well as the national equip-ment industry, which is mostly characterised by small-and medium-sized companies, are established partnersof the Bundeswehr. Some 100 military aviation industrycompanies in Germany play a decisive role in shapingthe operational and Alliance capability of the Bundes-wehr in the air dimension. Today, more than 22,000highly qualified people in this sector ensure the opera-tional readiness of the Bundeswehrs airborne weaponsystems. Combat and cargo aircraft, unmanned aerialvehicles, jet engines, satellites, helicopters, IT systemsand equipment components ranging from landing gearto flight control computers are among the globallyrecognised products developed and manufactured inGermany.

The core business activities of the German militaryaviation industry encompass the entire product life cyclefrom research and development, through production, tomaintenance, support and services.

The Bundeswehr cooperates with industry to optimisethe availability of airborne weapon systems.

In order to ensure the material availability of such highlycomplex systems at home and abroad, the Bundeswehrmust work even closer with industry when it comes tosystem support, maintenance, and contributions of theequipment industry.

The German defence aviation industry contributessubsystem expertise and in the case of rotary-wingaircraft and jet engines also system design expertise tothe European aerospace industry. This expertise includesthe ability to responsibly plan, design, develop, ma-

nufacture, integrate and approve and then to operateand provide support for the above-mentioned systemsand important subsystems. A common effort must bemade to maintain these German elements in a Europeancontext in accordance with the German Governmentsaviation strategy. This approach will ensure independentevaluation and advisory skills and the operational readi-

ness of the German air component.

The major system manufacturers play a central role inmaintaining the expertise of the aerospace industry,which otherwise mainly consists of small- and medi-um-sized companies. When it comes to major program-mes and maintenance, system manufacturers help bymaintaining supply chains and expertise for the systemsin the best possible way. Alongside this, the Federal Go-vernment supports small- and medium-sized businessesthrough a multitude of regulations such as the tenderingprovisions of the Act against Restraints on Competitionand tendering and contract regulations. From the specialperspective of ensuring the mission of the Bundeswehrand developing its capabilities, certain areas of arma-ments policy can be used to illustrate roadmaps andoptions.

Multinational Cooperation

In Europe, airborne weapon systems have been de-veloped and manufactured in bilateral, trilateral andmultilateral projects for several decades. While in the1950s and 1960s, U.S. aircraft were manufacturedunder licence, the Transall and TORNADO aircraft and fi-

nally the EUROFIGHTER, A400M and TIGER programmesinitiated the development of an independent, Europeandefence aviation industry. This industry remains, howe-ver, regionally fragmented. This is a result of the domi-nance of national industrial policy interests but also ofmilitary capability requirements. These have shaped thecomplex and consensus-oriented programme structures.In contrast to other market segments, however, therehas been further progress in industrial integration at theEuropean level.

[1]

[3]

[5]

[2]

[4]


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Owing to the small quantities it sometimes requires, theBundeswehr can only carry out future aviation program-mes of the Bundeswehr in development and procure-ment projects together with partner nations. It is there-fore important to learn from past experience and, on thepart of governments, to fully implement the lead-nationprinciple. The objective must be that the European na-tions, in particular those with a national industry whichare organised in the Letter of Intent (LoI) network

17

, takethe next step toward an integrated European industrialand military structure. This means less sovereignty inminor matters (e.g. division of labour in a programme)and greater sovereignty in major matters (e.g. a portfolioof multinational programmes providing capabilities fastand effectively). The only promising approach here is thelead nation principle, which assigns military responsibilityto a nation and industrial responsibility to a company.

Lessons learned in cooperative procurement program-mes over the past decades with different approaches towork and risk sharing, commercial contracting, and pro-

ject management should be taken into account in futurecooperative projects. The clear assignment of responsibi-lities in projects is often politically difficult but is essentialfor the success of such cooperative programmes. This isillustrated by development programmes that have beenestablished according to the lead nation principle. In ad-dition, there is often an apparent contradiction betweenthe generally justified demand for an unbiased searchfor solutions and the frequently necessary early agree-ment on a specific solution when armament projects are

conducted in the framework of cooperative program-mes. In order to address this issue, use of the IntegratedPlanning Process is to be geared more towards the re-quirements of multinationality. In any case, customers inmultinational programmes decide on a design that is asuniform as possible in order to reduce development andprocurement costs. Meeting military requirements hastop priority. The challenges of such complex projects canbe met by assigning clear national lead functions (if pos-sible on the part of both the contractor and the custo-mer) in armaments cooperation projects on the basis ofthe NATO framework nation concept. In this context,Germany must be prepared to accept the lead functionof other nations and to responsibly lead projects whereit has the lead function.

Research and Technology

At present, the technological activities of nationalmilitary aviation are essentially limited to applied basicresearch and capability-oriented research. The FederalMinistry of Defence intends to remain committed to co-operation in selected subareas and to support the Ger-man defence aviation industry in developing advancedtechnology for future armaments projects. This appliesin particular to unmanned aviation and technologicallysophisticated subsystems.

The German defence aviation industry is in a positionto contribute key technologies to the European MALEUASand also to a NextGenWS. In terms of armaments

policy, Germany should endeavour to ensure total sys-tem capability for UAS and the required technologicalknow-how for its certification and unrestricted integrati-on into general air traffic in order to maintain our abilityto adapt to new challenges.

In future, the EUROFIGHTER will form a mainstay of our

combat aircraft fleet, which is the core of the FCAS. Wemust prepare technologies for maintaining and exten-ding capabilities in the context of a mid-life upgrade(MLU) and, if necessary, for a complementary system(NextGenWS).

Overall, we must examine what technological measuresand modern management procedures can be used toimprove the operational readiness, security and missioneffectiveness of airborne weapon systems.

What all airborne weapon systems have in common isthe need for powerful, reliable and low-maintenanceengines, future-proof, modular avionics, and increasedsurvivability in heavily defended airspace.

In addition, developments in the manufacturing of ro-bust airborne weapon systems are also of great import-ance. This includes the capability of the air componentto conduct reconnaissance and deliver effects across theentire information space.

Concepts are required which keep repair and main-tenance times as short as possible in order to increasethe availability of aircraft for operations and training.Studies must be conducted to determine whether itwould be sensible to use civilian commercial proceduresin the military. Future-proof materials must be used andmaintenance procedures must be established which al-low for a high availability rate even in theatre (e.g. battledamage repair).

In order to develop and mature technology in the fieldsof UAS, FCAS, NextGenWS and legal regulatory fra-meworks such as the DEMAR regulations and in orderto improve operational readiness, the resources of theBundeswehr, other ministries and the defence aviationindustry in Germany and Europe must be pooled in asensible way. For this purpose, the Federal Ministry ofDefence will prepare a military technology roadmapin accordance with recommendations from the dialogue

between the FMoD and industry and present togetherwith other ministries. The necessary integration of rese-arch facilities and industry is intended to start in 2016.Subsequently, the R&T concept of the air and spacesystems R&T task area will, if necessary, be updated.

System Design Responsibility

Assigning system design responsibility (SDR) in an arma-ment project is, from the point of view of the Bundes-wehr, essential for addressing and managing risks. Thisoffers the defence aviation industry the potential fortechnological and commercial growth since significantparts of the value creation process are with the primecontractor and compensation for the resulting risks canbe received. In multinational military aviation program-mes, every participating nation attempts to gain asmuch responsibility as possible for their national defen-ce aviation industry. For the German Government, it isdesirable that companies in Germany assume the roleof prime contractor in promising armament projects.Relinquishing such a role in return for appropriate andguaranteed compensation is justifiable and sensible inpolitical negotiations according to the principle of lesssovereignty in small matters in return for greater sover-eignty in large matters.

Maintaining National Supplier Structures

NIn addition to the major corporations, small and medi-um-sized companies form the backbone of the defenceaviation industry and are an important driver of innovati-on. Small and medium-sized companies make importantcontributions on their own, together with other smalland medium-sized companies, and as partners of majorcorporations. The subsystem and equipment industry,which is characterised by small and medium-sized com-panies, contributes to a robust and powerful develop-ment, manufacturing and supply chain.

Longer phases without new procurement programmesand significantly reduced fleet sizes in the Bundeswehr,however, have reduced the economic basis for smalland medium-sized suppliers. From an economic pointof view, they can no longer remain on the market andmaintain appropriate capacities. These capacities maybe critical resources which, if required, cannot be readilyreproduced.

172001 Framework Agreement concerning Measures to Fac ilitate the Restructuring and Operation of the European DefenceIndustry (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Sweden and Spain)

EUROFIGHTER in hangar at Tactical Air Force Wing 74 in Neuburg

(Bundeswehr/Schulze)


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The major corporations have primary responsibility formanaging this risk of loss of competence in supplychains. The German Governments policy for small andmedium-sized companies must take these conflictinginterests into appropriate account. As far as possible andadmissible, the Bundeswehr will ensure that Germansmall and medium-sized systems manufacturers and

suppliers are given a long-term perspective regardingservices for the armed forces. This is linked in particularto the further implementation of the strategy paper ofthe German Government on strengthening the defenceindustry.

Cost Control, Planning Predictability, and Avoidan-ce of Unnecessary Complexity

A 2014 study of important armament projects, struc-tures and processes identified and quantified shortco-mings regarding technical, chronological and economicplanning and the management of the complexity of

some larger Bundeswehr procurement programmes, inparticular those for airborne weapon systems. While ma-

jor projects are regularly extended, their environmentschange at an ever increasing pace. The cycle of plan-ning, development, procurement and in-service supportcan no longer keep up with rapid political, technologicaland operational changes. The Armaments Agenda aimsto tackle these shortcomings with comprehensive andcoherent armaments management, which is designed tomake improvements for both customers and suppliers.

A main focus of improving cooperation between the go-vernment and industry will be the introduction ofjointrisk management, which is currently being used in theNH90 NTH SEA LION project.

Concepts for In-Service Support

Concepts for in-service support must be defined at anearly date for each military aviation project. Future usersmust be kept in mind. These concepts can then be incor-porated into the development and procurement phases.

The process of in-service support management, whichbegins with planning in the analysis phase of eachaviation project, ensures the operational readiness ofweapon and operational systems throughout theirentire life cycle and takes into account operational andeconomic aspects. The resources of the Bundeswehrand industry must be augmented, maintained andcontinuously enhanced in order to ensure the technicalimplementation and subsequent technical and logisticsupport of all measures for the further development ofairborne platforms and their adaptation to current andfuture requirements. The increasing share of supportservices provided by industry must be taken into ac-count. Appropriate concepts and contractual structuresmust be designed so that capacities and capabilities ofthe defence aviation industry can be maintained evenif the number of orders decreases. In return, industrymust assume responsibility in particular with regard to

performing contractual obligations and to increasingoperational readiness.

The current approach has proven to be successful formaintaining Bundeswehr competence in logistics but istoo complex in terms of the division of tasks betweenindustry and the Bundeswehr. The experience of othernations with performance-based logistics promises asimpler division of tasks and improved economy. Thisapproach allocates a larger number of tasks to industry,which in turn contractually guarantees availability levelsat fixed prices. Gains in efficiency achieved by simplerand improved processes are shared. The experiencesof partner nations and the lessons they have learnedshould point the way ahead for Germany. A graduatedapproach with initial pilot tests is desirable in order toovercome practical obstacles (such as maintaining skillsin the Bundeswehr).

b) Personnel and Operational Readiness

Qualified personnel and operational materiel are thefoundations on which the Bundeswehr will accomplishits current and future tasks. These issues are thereforeamong the strategic priority areas on the way to a Bun-deswehr that is fit for the future.

The Bundeswehr is only ready for operations when, inaddition to operational materiel and personnel, otherfactors such as logistics, information technology, infra-structure, training and exercises are coordinated withone another. Coordinating these factors and optimisingthe associated processes is a central objective of thereorientation of the Bundeswehr and the ArmamentsAgenda.

The operational readiness of the Bundeswehr mustbe ensured if it is to fulfil its national and internatio-nal tasks and obligations. This applies in particular toongoing operations, obligations in the context of theNATO Defence Planning Process and the EuropeanHeadline Goal, permanent tasks (policing of German airspace and maritime waters and SAR), routine duty, andtraining.

Simulation will become even more important in order toreduce the amount of expensive and limited resourcesneeded for training and exercises. Simulation also makesit possible to present operational and exercise scenariosthat in reality would be expensive or impossible. Modernsimulation systems are being used for effective and rea-listic training that satisfies the complex requirements ofoperations involving airborne capability platforms.

A pilot at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico

(Bundeswehr/Schmidt)


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c) Routine Duty, Training and Operations in aMultinational Environment

International cooperation can create synergy and helpshare and reduce burdens. Two examples are the Eu-ropean Air Transport Command (EATC) in the area ofair transport and the results of the helicopter initiatives

(e.g. exercises and training courses of the HelicopterTraining Programme) in the context of EDA. The Bun-deswehr itself already provides training for Europeanpartner nations at the International Helicopter TrainingCentre in Bckeburg. There are plans to further expandthe International Helicopter Training Centre as partof the Framework Nations Concept. In addition, theBundeswehr cooperates with the armed forces of theNetherlands in the field of air mobility through its RapidResponse Forces Division and with the armed forces ofFrance in training for the TIGER combat helicopter. Theestablishment of an international combat training centrefor airmobile elements of land forces is in the planningphase and will be operated under the Framework Na-tions Concept.

The German Air Force has for years conducted highlysuccessful training for combat aircraft crews as part ofEuro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training.

It is important to further expand multinational aircraftprogrammes and develop them in order to integratecapabilities in a multinational fashion along the lines ofongoing cooperation programmes of the land forces.

d) Single European Sky / European Military Air-worthiness Requirements

The Single European Sky (SES) is an initiative of the Eu-ropean Union to harmonise and completely overhaul airtraffic management in a total of 41 European nations.The research and development programme of the Single

European Sky process is called Single European Sky AirTraffic Management Research (SESAR).

In order to avoid operational and security restrictionsand to minimise costly upgrades of military aircraftwithout impeding the overall SES I SESAR process, theSES I SESAR programme must be actively supervised andorganised at all levels.

At the same time, the aim is to harmonise militarycertification regulations at the European level. Thecommon goal is to incorporate the European MilitaryAirworthiness Requirements (EMAR) into national law inorder to facilitate cooperation at the European level. Inaddition to the implementation of EMAR, the GermanAviation Act will be amended in order to delegate legalentities under private law with sovereign tasks. This willprovide the Bundeswehr with greater opportunities forcooperation with industrial partners.

[1]Flight instructor and captain during Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training (ENJJPT) (SKA/IMZBw)

[2] [3]Pilot briefing at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico (Bundeswehr/Schmidt)

[4] Maintenance work on a CHALLENGER aircraft (Bundeswehr/Twardy)

[2] [3] [4]


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18Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (Ed.): Strategy Paper of the Federal Government on Strengthening the Defen-ce Industry, Berlin, 8 July 2015.

Way Ahead and 6Roadmap Priorities

The strategy of the German Government for main-taining and promoting key defence technologies

18

defines a prioritised set of technologies whichare to be maintained and promoted at national orEuropean level. In this context, the Air Power De-velopment Strategy further develops this approachfor the air dimension. The Air Power DevelopmentStrategy gives an overview of current and plannedair capabilities that are or should in future be pro-vided by Bundeswehr aircraft.

It states the expected challenges and planned prio-rities for and in military aviation in Germany bothfor the Bundeswehr and, as a consequence, for thedefence industry. Prioritisation is necessary in orderto ensure a realistic and financially feasible con-centration of efforts against a backdrop of limitedresources and in view of European competition.

The priorities outlined in this document are derived fromthe requirements of the Bundeswehr. However, since thesatisfaction of demand is primarily carried out and en-sured by industry, requirements must be adapted. Whenimplementing its strategies, the FMoD will consider theneeds, market situation and strength of industry and useits own instruments in the areas of research and tech-nology, procurement, multinational cooperation, exportsupport, and M&A options in order to ensure satisfacti-on of the Bundeswehrs capability requirements.

The Air Power Development Strategy has defined threepriorities which should also be reflected in Germanarmaments policy.

Unmanned aviation is a key capability of the Europeandefence industry and should be shaped by significantindustrial contributions from Germany (our ambition isto act as a general contractor and ensure know-how,particularly with regard to certification and integrationinto controlled airspace).

The long-term R&T plans of the FMoD on technologydevelopment and maturation in selected areas will besummarised in a military technology roadmap and pre-sented together with other ministries.

The operational readiness of airborne weapon and em-ployment systems must be further improved by modernapproaches, such as performance-based logistics, whichinvolve the German defence aviation industry and takeinto account the principle of cost effectiveness.

European cooperation is necessary in armament projectsfor the third dimension, which involve major investmentsand economies of scale. The Bundeswehr has evaluatedand learned the lessons of the past decades. There isa need for a new multinational approach that is morecollaborative and more effective. This approach must bebased on a clear lead nation principle for each develop-ment programme.

In strategic terms, agreement on the further course ofaction with regard to the FCAS, and thus also to theNext Generation Weapon System, is of crucial import-ance. Germany will advocate a coordinated course of ac-tion in this matter, particularly with regard to the majorindustrial nations. Only when the important strategicquestion of operational requirements for an FCAS andthus for the NextGenWS has been settled by the majornations can fundamental decisions on the FCAS betaken in a reasonable and consistent manner.

EUROFIGHTER of Tactical Air Force Wing 73

Steinhoff (Bundeswehr/Petersen)


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43AIR POWER DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY42

The Air Power Development Strategy is based on currentrequirements and must be adapted to foreseeable chan-ges. A regular review is therefore necessary. Necessarychanges should be reported to FMoD Branch Plg I 4.

References

Defence Policy Guidelines of 27 May 2011

Bundeswehr Concept of 1 July 2013

1st Report on the Dialogue between the FMoD and theFederation of German Security and Defence Industries(BDSV) of 29 June 2015

Aviation Strategy of the Federal Government of March2014

Strategy Paper on Strengthening the Defence Industry of8 July 2015

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Acronyms and Abbreviations

A2/AD: Anti-access / area denial

AESA: Active electronically scanned array radar, alsoreferred to as E-SCAN

AGS: Alliance Ground Surveillance

Al: Air interdiction

ASI: Anti-surface integration

ASuW: Anti-surface warfare

ASW: Anti-submarine warfare

CAP: Capability assurance programme

CAS: Close air support

CCA: Close combat attack

COMINT: Communication intelligence

COTS: Commercial off-the-shelf

CSAR: Combat search and rescue

CSW: Confined and shallow waters

DaCAS: Digitally aided CAS

DCA: Defensive counter air

DEMAR: German Military Airworthiness Requirements

EATC: European Air Transport Command

EDA: European Defence Agency

ELINT: Electronic intelligence

EMAR: European Military Airworthiness Requirements

ESM: Electronic support measures

EU: European Union

FAC(A): Forward air controller (airborne)

FCAS: Future Combat Air System

FMoD: Federal Ministry of Defence

FGS: Federal German Ship

FoM: Freedom of movement

GBU: Guided bomb unit

IMINT: Imagery intelligence

ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organisation

ISIS: Integrated SIGINT System

ISR: Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance

JFS: Joint Fire Support

JISR: Joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance

JTST: Joint time sensitive targeting

LDP: Laser designator pod

LEP: Life extension programme

LoA: Level of ambition

Lol: Letter of intent

LO: Low observability

LUH SOF: Light utility helicopter specialoperations forces

M&A: Mergers and acquisitions

MALE: Medium altitude long endurance

MHU: Multinational helicopter unit

MLU: Mid-life upgrade

MMF: Multinational multirole transport tanker fleet

MRTT: Multi-role tanker transport

NAEW&C: NATO Airborne Early Warning System

NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

NEO: Noncombatant evacuation operation

NextGenWS: Next Generation Weapon System

NTH: Naval transport helicopter

OCA: Offensive counter air

QRA(I): Quick reaction alert (intercept)

SALIS: Strategic airlift interim solution

SAR: Search and rescue

SASE: Safe and secure environment

SDR: System design responsibility

SEAD: Suppression of enemy air defence

SES: Single European Sky

SESAR: Single European Sky air trafficmanagement research

SIGINT: Signals intelligence

SOF: Special operations forces

TAR: Tactical air reconnaissance

UAS: Unmanned aerial system

UAV: Unmanned aerial vehicle


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46 AIR POWER DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

Published byFederal Ministry of Defence,Office of Strategic Armaments ManagementStauffenbergstrae 1810785 Berlin

Last amendedDecember 2015

Layout and designBundeswehr Editorial Service

Photo captionsBundeswehr/Stefan Petersen

Picture creditsBundeswehrEADS

Printed byFMoD Branch IUD III 2, Berlin

Additional informationVisit us atwww.bmvg.dewww.bundeswehr.de

Editorial Information


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