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 Interview with the Chief of Staff of the German Air Force
Shaping the Luftwaffe for the challenges of the 21st century
The 2006 White Paper on Germanys security policy and the future of the Bundeswehr describes the far-reaching transformation which has taken place in the security environment in recent years and the modification of the armed forces capability profile to meet the new challenges which is therefore necessary. In the Bundeswehrs analysis of its future role, the tasks are re-weighted and defined. Where does the Luftwaffe stand in this continuous process of transformation? The President of Freundeskreises Luftwaffe e. V. (the German Air Force Association), Major General Botho Engelien retd., interviewed Lieutenant General Klaus-Peter Stieglitz, Chief of Staff of the German Air Force, about these issues.
Freundeskreis Luftwaffe: In an analysis prepared last year which coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Luftwaffes foundation, you drew special attention to the people in the Team Luftwaffe. What are the challenges that this team will have to face in the ongoing process of transforming the armed forces in the 21st century?
Klaus-Peter Stieglitz: Each and every individual in Team Luftwaffe has to be clear that the operational challenges encroach directly not only on their work but also on the environment, and as a result they have an influence on how we think and act. Neither structures nor developments in world politics can be predicted reliably, hence our personnel have to be available at short notice for unforeseen operations. To make this possible, certain organisational adjustments are necessary.
The entire Team Luftwaffe is torn between the opposing forces of service requirements on the one hand and the demands of reconciling family and work on the other. Here there will be no quick solutions. To compensate, a lot of work has to constantly go into developing mutual respect. The often used image of the people being the focus of attention is of course correct. But it is equally true that the individual has to be carried along in the process of change. If we are to succeed at moving the Luftwaffe forward, however, we have to turn our personnel themselves into the engine of this permanent adjustment to framework conditions that are constantly changing.
Freundeskreis Luftwaffe: Despite all the imponderables about future operations, the special capabilities and inherent qualities of airmen mean that they can still be deployed effectively and in a variety of ways. How do you assess the capability profile of the Luftwaffe in this connection?
Stieglitz: The characteristics of the air force, in particular its range, speed, flexibility, stand-off capability, precision and all-weather capability, are an extremely important element of the capability profile of the armed forces and hence they make an invaluable contribution to the preventive security of the state. At the heart of this is the ability to make coalition-capable contributions to the superiority of information and force, whereby force does not refer solely to the physical destruction of targets. The use of air power will increasingly be defined in future in terms of the unique attributes of wide-area reconnaissance and protection, control of air space and graduated effect over great distances, the last of which, moreover, includes the services which the Luftwaffe provides, for example, in air transport. The measures associated with advancing the transformation, i.e. the inflow of new weapon systems and, along with them, adjustments in concepts, training and structures, will strengthen this capability profile in the long term.
Freundeskreis Luftwaffe: During the last twelve years the Luftwaffe has had to plan and implement five different structures and the requirements of four different personnel structure models. What will the final result look like?
Stieglitz: The Luftwaffe has actually been going through a phase of great change bringing many challenges with it for Luftwaffe service personnel, for some time. The desire to see a final result is therefore understandable. But given that the security environment is constantly changing, a final result would not be appropriate. The Luftwaffe will also have to carry on developing in the future and adapt to changes in the mission and capability profiles. Our goal must be to shape the Luftwaffe sufficiently flexibly that it can fulfil its mission even under altered framework conditions. To this end it is necessary that we detect new developments early on, identify capability deficits and draw the right conclusions for the further development of the Luftwaffe. However, we must take care to ensure that the steps which lie ahead of us are clear, transparent and comprehensible so that Luftwaffe personnel can understand and endorse them.
Freundeskreis Luftwaffe: Always in service has been the Luftwaffes motto since its foundation, and it is also the title of the book celebrating its 50th anniversary. The protection of Germany and its population is the central role of the air defence. Eurofighter will be the mainstay of airborne air defence in the future. We are now entering the third year of operating this new system in the Luftwaffe. What is your assessment of experience to date?
Stieglitz: The introduction of this uniquely capable fighter aircraft has been running according to expectations since the start of initial flying operations under the sole responsibility of the Luftwaffe. Flying operations have attained the required stability. Implementation of the training projects and the continuing parallel field trials is proceeding according to contract.
Contractually agreed upgrades to the Eurofighters software are enhancing the performance spectrum of the aircraft and increasing its capability. For aviators and technicians this means a permanent extension of their knowledge which will enable them to make full use of the weapon system and all that it offers.
Freundeskreis Luftwaffe: As a weapon directed against air targets, the AMRAAM guided missile will not be able to deliver the performance implied by the capabilities and mission profile of the Eurofighter in the medium term. What thought is going into successor planning?
Stieglitz: Basically we need to be able to deploy modern medium-range guided missiles under all weather conditions, by day and night, against active and passive electronic countermeasures and from all altitudes. We also need a propulsion unit capable of engaging air targets beyond visual range. The four nations are planning to integrate the AIM-120C-5 guided missile into the Eurofighter in 2008 on top of the AIM-120B, which has already been integrated. This will further enhance the performance potential of the weapon system.
The full performance potential of the Eurofighter will be realised once the Meteor guided missile currently under development by European industry is added in about 2013. Meteor boasts a novel propulsion technology which enables high manoeuvrability throughout the entire flight of the missile and is equipped with state-of-the-art seeker head technology.
Freundeskreis Luftwaffe: The MEADS air defence system will replace Patriot to become the mainstay of ground-based air defence. When will MEADS be available and what special capabilities distinguish this system from its predecessors?
Stieglitz: The plan is to procure the MEADS tactical air defence system (TADS) commencing in 2013. An initial, independent operational module consisting of three fire units should be operationally ready by 2016/2017. The decision on procurement of the total TADS/MEADS requirement will depend on the current security situation and other underlying conditions (including financial planning) and will be made after implementation has been approved (around 2009).
Compared with Patriot, TADS/MEADS will offer full 360º coverage of aerial targets with very small radar cross-sections, a modular open system and network architecture and interoperability extending to the level of weapon system components. Last but not least, the cost-efficiency of air defence should be improved through integration of a less expensive second missile.
Freundeskreis Luftwaffe: With its multi-role capability, Eurofighter is also suited to air-to-ground engagements. How do you envisage using it in practice? What armaments are planned and how much will it cost to switch roles?
Stieglitz: As a multi-role weapon system endowed with long-range sensors, data transmission and defence systems and stand-off and precision-capable weapons, it will be possible to deploy Eurofighter for both defensive and offensive missions, independently of weather and visual conditions, and as the particular operational scenario dictates. As part of the role adaptation process, we plan to have the GPS- and laser-guided, all-weather capable short-range GBU-16 precision weapon plus laser designation pod integrated by 2010 and the MAW TAURUS stand-off weapon integrated by 2012.
With regard to the target structure, two fighter-bomber wings are to be equipped with Eurofighter. These units will be earmarked for multi-role deployment, the emphasis being on offensive operations. These 5th generation weapon systems with further growth potential will signify a quantum leap towards the acquisition by the armed forces of a network centric operations capability.
Freundeskreis Luftwaffe: When it comes to inventory planning for the fighter aircraft, the phasing out of old systems and timely inflow of new Eurofighters will prevent capability gaps from developing in the areas of air defence and offence. Is the timing of Eurofighter deliveries irrevocably fixed and is the scope of planning unchanged?
Stieglitz: To achieve the capability profile laid down in the defence policy and Bundeswehr concept guidelines and to fulfil Germanys alliance obligations it is required that all 180 Eurofighters enter into service according to schedule and have the specified functions for deployment in the air-to-air and air-to-ground roles. Phasing out the F-4F and parts of the Tornado fleet will be coordinated with the inflow of Eurofighters. With the first and second tranches, Germany will receive 44 and 68 aircraft respectively, and the flow of these two batches is fixed. The contract for Germanys third batch of 68 aircraft from tranche 3 should be signed in 2009. Parliamentary approval is still required for this. On current plans, delivery of the last Eurofighters in tranche 1 should be complete by the end of 2007. Deliveries of the Luftwaffes first tranche 2 aircraft are set to commence in 2008 as planned.
Freundeskreis Luftwaffe: The Tornado Recce proved itself as a tactical reconnaissance aircraft in the 1990s in the Balkans. In March 2007 Parliament passed a resolution deploying six Tornado Recces to Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). How do you rate the capability profile of this system as deployed in Afghanistan and the tactical operational benefits associated with it?
Stieglitz: Our Tornado Recces are just one reconnaissance asset amongst several available in the intelligence gathering and reconnaissance alliance. But they also have a fundamentally different capability profile compared with other reconnaissance resources. They can be used to provide both fast response, focussed reconnaissance anywhere in the entire ISAF area and coverage of large areas in a short time. They deliver visual and infrared aerial images of points, objects and areas. The quality of our evaluated results required to supplement and refine the situation picture of the ISAF is achieved above all through the analysis and judgement of our well-trained specialist analysts in the reconnaissance ground station. All in all, the combined results serve to protect ISAF servicemen throughout Afghanistan and also to assist civilian aid organisations active in the country and the Afghan population.
Freundeskreis Luftwaffe: UAVs will play an increasingly important role in aerial warfare, whether deployed as reconnaissance or weapons platforms. What are the Luftwaffes plans in this area?
Stieglitz: The Luftwaffe is preparing for deployment of high and medium altitude versions of a long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle for the Bundeswehr. With regard to a successor to the signal intelligence variant of the Breguet Atlantic, according to a parliamentary resolution of 31 January this year, a prototype should be available for industry trials in 2009. First deliveries of this UAV to the Luftwaffe are scheduled for 2010. Assuming the necessary political decisions are approved, this UAV will be followed by four production aircraft. On top of that, Germany is also a partner in the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) system. The idea here is that the alliance should have a core capability in imaging surveillance and reconnaissance from about 2012. It is planned to supplement this NATO core capability in the medium term through temporary recourse to components of national systems.
For reconnaissance in the operational area, the Luftwaffe sees the need for the short-term purchase of an off-the-shelf medium altitude long endurance system to complement the Tornado Recce. Appropriate allowance has been made for this in the plans.
Freundeskreis Luftwaffe: When the A400M airlifter succeeds Germanys C-160 Transall, the Luftwaffe will have a highly mobile and multi-role air transport system. Already today transport capacity is having to be bought in. I suspect you would prefer this aircraft to be available today rather than tomorrow. But have there not been reports of substantial delays in delivery?
Stieglitz: The development, production and procurement of the A400M is based on the contract of May 2003. To date the milestones laid down in the contract have always been met in accordance with the terms of the contract and on time by the Airbus Military Sociedad Limitada (AMSL) company.
Freundeskreis Luftwaffe: The Bell UH-1D helicopter has done invaluable service for many years and really deserves to have the NH90 as its successor available on time. Evidently there are difficulties here over delivery. What does that mean as far as the Luftwaffe is concerned?
Stieglitz: The first NH90 Light Transport Helicopter (LTH) and Search and Rescue (SAR) units are expected this summer for technician training in Fassberg. Equipping of the NH90 helicopter transport squadron in Schönewalde/Holzdorf is likely to commence in the first quarter of 2008. To maintain transport capacity, the retirement of the Bell UH-1D will be co-ordinated with the arrival of the NH90.
From FLUG REVUE 5/2007
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