German Air Force

German Air Force Luftwaffe
Logo of the German Air Force
Active	1935-1945 (Wehrmacht) 1956-present (Bundeswehr)
Country	Federal Republic of Germany
Role	Air Defence Force
Size	42,216 personnel,[1] 454 aircraft
Motto	Team Luftwaffe
Colors	Blue, Grey and White
Anniversaries	9 January 1956
Engagements	Spanish Civil War World War II Kosovo War War in Afghanistan
Commanders
Current commander	Lieutenant General Arne Kreuzinger-Janik
Notable commanders	General Josef Kammhuber General Johannes Steinhoff, General Gerhard Back, 2004-2007 JFC Brunssum Commander
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack	Tornado
Electronic warfare	Tornado
Fighter	F-4 Phantom II, Eurofighter
Trainer	T-38 Talon, G-120, T-37
Transport	Challenger 600, A310, Cougar, C-160 Aircraft inventory The Luftwaffe currently operates 454 aircraft, including 280 main combat aircraft. The back bone of the Luftwaffe's fighter force is currently made up of the obsolete McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II. These are however in the process of being replaced by the new Eurofighter Typhoon of which the Luftwaffe will receive 140 aircraft. As of 2004 it was announced the Luftwaffe's fast jet combat fleet will be reduced to only 265 aircraft by 2015. However, with the cut in orders from 180 Typhoons to 140, the Luftwaffe's fast jet combat force is set to fall to only 225 aircraft by 2015. Aircraft Origin Type Versions In service Comments Combat aircraft McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II United States Fighter Aircraft F-4F 51 In service until 2013 (to be replaced by the Eurofighter Typhoon) Panavia Tornado European Union Electronic Warfare Attack/Reconnaissance Aircraft Tornado ECR Tornado IDS 34 150 operated from Jagdbombergeschwader 32 (Lagerlechfeld) operated from Jagdbombergeschwader 33 (Büchel), Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 and Jagdbombergeschwader 31 (Nörvenich) Eurofighter Typhoon European Union Multirole Fighter Aircraft Typhoon/Tandem 55 88 more on order Transport Aircraft Bombardier Challenger 600 Canada VIP Transport CL-601 5 Will be replaced by the A319-115CJ and Global Express 5000. Global Express 5000 Canada VIP Transport Bombardier Global Express 5000 0 4 ordered. Entry into service: 2011 as replacement for the Bombardier Challenger 600. Airbus A319CJ European Union VIP Transport Airbus A319-115CJ 2 In service since June 2010 as replacement for the Bombardier Challenger 600. Airbus A340 European Union VIP Transport Airbus A340-313 0 2 former Lufthansa A340-313 ordered. Entry into service: 2010 and 2011 as replacement for two of the three former Interflug Airbus which are used for VIP transport. Transall C-160 Germany France Tactical Transport C-160D 86 Will be replaced by the A400M. Airbus A400M European Union Tactical Transport/Tanker Airbus A400M 0 60 on order. First delivery is planned for 2014. Airbus A310 European Union Strategic Transport/Tanker A310-300 7 3 former Interflug Transport/Utility Helicopter Bell UH-1 Iroquois United States utility helicopter UH-1D 70 built by Dornier (to be replaced by the NH90) Eurocopter Cougar European Union VIP transport AS 532U-2 3 NHI NH90 European Union transport + CSAR NH90 TTH 1 42 on order (+12 options) as replacement for the UH-1D Reconnaissance UAV EuroHawk United States Germany SIGINT RQ-4B Block 20 0 5 on order; to be built by Northrop Grumman and equipped with an EADS reconnaissance payload Heron Israel reconnaissance IAI Heron 3 3 plus 2 ground stations leased by the Luftwaffe as an interim solution until SAATEG becomes