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Interview with Commodore Wolfgang Kalähne, commander Naval Air Arm

The German Naval Air Arm must master new challenges despite funding shortages. Once a replacement has been found for the Atlantic, a successor will be needed for the Tornado. The new jet fighter should be capable of operating on aircraft carriers.

FLUG REVUE: What are the challenges that face the Naval Air Arm fleet in today's environment?

Wolfgang Kalähne: The reforms currently under way affect every part of the Bundeswehr. We are faced with enormous changes. All servicemen would be well advised to keep an open mind as regards their future deployment. The future clearly lies in joint operations and, moreover, not just in NATO operations but also in the service of other multinational organisations.

Any measures which serve to increase the sums available for the procurement of new military materiel will of course have to produce savings in other sectors. Here we need practical solutions to meet the training requirements for the operative deployment of all naval assets.

Then there is another subject which is particularly close to my heart: the recruitment of new people to fill both technical and flying positions within naval aviation. Increased efforts in recent years have paid off, but not enough people in Germany know that the Naval Air Arm exists. We must therefore not let up actively publicising our activities.

FLUG REVUE: How will the reorganisation of the Bundeswehr affect the Naval Air Arm?

Kalähne: The structure of the Naval Air Arm fleet will not change significantly in this decade, nor will the role of the naval aviation wing with its airborne weapon systems. This follows from the basic mission of the Bundeswehr to defend Germany and our allies. But at the same time this mission has become a lot bigger and now includes participation in multinational crisis management operations, which are significantly more likely to be needed. It is important that we can use virtually all the military capabilities needed to take part in crisis management operations from the core capabilities of the armed forces for the defence of Germany and NATO.

FLUG REVUE: How operationally ready is the Naval Air Arm?

Kalähne: I am concerned over the currently low availability of helicopters. The introduction of the new Sea Lynx Mk.88A has been significantly delayed. Shortcomings in the technical documentation and shortages of spare parts have also created problems for us. At the same time our Sea King fleet is undergoing a refurbishment programme that is necessary to keep the helicopter operational until the introduction of the MH90.

FLUG REVUE: What is the situation regarding future equipment plans?

Kalähne: Our Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic MPAs are now 35 years old. When it comes to successor airborne weapon systems, finding a replacement for the Atlantic is the top priority. It is essential that the future Maritime Patrol Aircraft should have state-of-the-art mission equipment, and be compatible and interoperable both in the European and also in the North Atlantic context.

We have joined up with Italy on a common project, and an invitation to tender for the MPA programme will be issued shortly. We are thinking in terms of twelve aircraft for our Navy and plan to have the first MPA successor aircraft in service with MFG 3 in Nordholz in 2007.

When it comes to replacing the current Br. 1150 SIGINT the deliberations as to whether, how and with what are still going on.

Likewise in 2007 we are expecting the first two MH90s in MFG 5. These helicopters will replace the 21 Sea King Mk 41's, and in the long-term MFG 3's 22 Sea Lynxes as well. Currently the requirement stands at 38 helicopters. The actual requirement may be slightly more than that, as the number of platforms on floats for on-board helicopters will increase in the interim before the MH90 arrives.

We also urgently need to update our outdated command and communication resources. Especially in combined-service and multinational operations, the command and information architecture is of paramount importance. Interoperability requires compatible systems, and here we have in mind integration into the Maritime Command Control and Information System (MCCIS).

FLUG REVUE: Is any thought currently being given to a Tornado successor?

Kalähne: We are talking about 15 years hence. Like our present Tornados, the new aircraft will of course be land-based, in Eggebek, but it will need to be capable of being operated from an aircraft carrier. In future we will need to be far more responsive than today. We will therefore need to be capable of relocating not just to other land-based air bases, but also, for example of relocating a squadron of naval fighter-bombers on board a carrier of one of our allies.

A lot of people believe this approach is unrealistic today. But in 20 years it will be unrealistic not to be taking part in joint operations, with German naval fighter-bombers on board an allied carrier - in the best meaning of the security and defence initiatives of the European Union and NATO.

FLUG REVUE: Given the Bundeswehr's shortage of funds, how realistic are these plans?

Kalähne: I am confident that the new projects can be implemented as envisaged. I hope very much that the timescales I have been talking about are correct, as further delays would inevitably mean excessive operating costs using old systems.