On the F-35 - and its many problems

[Skybird]

Kai, the F-35 is licensed to carry US nuclear bombs, and that is what the German buying is about. The Eurofighter could be certified by the Americans to carry them as well, but the machines are still not fully equipped for that AFAIK and the Americans additionally delay the process (to sell their own stuff, I assume). A nuclear carrier is needed by the Germans to maintain the so-called "nukleare Teilhabe", while the Tornados get phased out over the years (they were the nuclear carriers so far). The 35 F-35s (if they really stick to that number, I think it will get reduced over time) do not fully replace the fleet of Eurofighters.

I am like Commander Adama, I do not feel comfortable with all this heavy dependency on networking. One infiltration, one vulnerability exploited - and not just a local or regional capability of the military goes down, but the complete network. Fear the Cylon computer virus!

[Catfish]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Kai, the F-35 is licensed to carry US nuclear bombs, and that is what the German buying is about.

I generally agree but the Tornado or at last one of its types can carry the 20 US-made B61 nuclear bombs stockpiled in Germany as part of NATO nuclear sharing. Maybe there are newer bombs needing other racks and hardpoints and the Tornado cannot be used for them? The Eurofighter is not ready for this, yes.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Catfish

I generally agree but the Tornado or at last one of its types can carry the 20 US-made B61 nuclear bombs stockpiled in Germany as part of NATO nuclear sharing. Maybe there are newer bombs needing other racks and hardpoints and the Tornado cannot be used for them? The Eurofighter is not ready for this, yes.

Its about the bombs the US has stored in Germany, the B61 block 3 and 4. 15 to 20 are estimated to be still stored here. Two years ago I think I red the US planned to modernise them or replace them with newer stuff. I dont know what came of that.

Russia has a masisve advanatge at tactical nukes, and they are already stationed in forward attack positions, namely Kaliningrad. The West has comporably little numbers of equal-sized weapons ready to retaliate on the battlefield, and would need to fall back to strategic nukes earlier, therefore. Thus, Berlin can be ashered by the Russians with around 4 minutes prewarning time. If they use their hypersonic missiles with a nuclear warhead - even less. In plain German that means: no warning time of practical use at all.