Germany Approves $4.4 Billion Eurofighter Typhoon Procurement
Germany has approved a €3.75 billion ($4.36 billion) order for 20 new Eurofighter Typhoon jets, solidifying the aircraft’s role as the backbone of its combat air fleet and marking the most expensive of seven defense acquisitions endorsed by Berlin’s budget committee.
BELFAST — Germany has given final approval to a long-anticipated order of advanced Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, authorizing a €3.75 billion ($4.36 billion) procurement for 20 Tranche 5 aircraft in a major reinforcement of its air combat capabilities.
The German Ministry of Defense announced that the new jets will feature E-scan radars, with deliveries scheduled between 2031 and 2034.
“The Eurofighter is the mainstay of the German combat aircraft fleet,” the MoD said in a translated statement. “The procurement of Tranche 5 aircraft serves to gradually transfer the capabilities of the aging Tornado fighter jet in the area of Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance into a future-proof platform with which Germany will continue to fulfill its NATO obligations.”
The acquisition forms part of Berlin’s broader modernization agenda for its air forces, complementing a separate order for 38 Typhoon jets under the existing Project Quadriga program. The Eurofighter consortium includes Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Part of a Broader Defense Modernization Push
The Typhoon order represents the most lucrative of seven weapon system acquisitions endorsed this week by the Bundestag’s budget committee. Among the additional approvals are €412 million for Eurofighter simulators to enhance pilot training and €1.13 billion to upgrade the fleet’s electronic warfare capabilities—specifically targeting “suppression of ground-based air defense” missions.
The MoD confirmed that the new Typhoons will be fitted with Saab’s AREXIS self-protection suite and precision-guided munitions for electronic attack and air-to-ground missions. Saab’s AREXIS system, already standard on Sweden’s Gripen E/F fighters, was selected by Berlin in 2023 for its advanced electronic warfare package. Deliveries of the sensors to Airbus have already begun, according to Saab executives.
“The Eurofighter is to be optimized with the AREXIS self-protection system and corresponding air-to-ground guided missiles and further enabled for electronic warfare,” the MoD statement added.
Beyond the Skies: Expanding Defense Capabilities
Germany’s defense spending approvals extend beyond aviation. The budget committee also signed off on contracts for armor-piercing ammunition, new medium-range boats for naval special forces, and minehunting sonar systems for Class 332 vessels—reflecting Berlin’s effort to strengthen capabilities across multiple branches of its armed forces.
The renewed investment wave underscores Germany’s growing commitment to NATO’s defense posture and its pledge to spend at least 2% of GDP on defense, following increased geopolitical tensions and a shift toward long-term readiness.
