Fü L III 1 Bonn, 10.
Mai 2006
Verfasser: OTL i.G. Trautermann
Vortrag
für: Herrn InspL
anlässlich: RUSI Airpower Conference
am: 25. Mai 2006
in: London
Thema: The Luftwaffe Perspective – A multinational approach to Air
Power
Zeitansatz: 20 Minuten
2
Anrede!
Kurze Vorstellung.
As you might know the Luftwaffe is celebrating its
50th anniversary this year.
So it was in 1956, only 11 years after the end of
World War II, that Germany took the first steps
towards regaining airpower capabilities by military
use of the airspace.
Ever since – and to no extent for historical reasons
alone – we took those steps in a multinational
context, a context that has in my understanding
closely linked Transatlantic and European
dimensions.
3
Thus, I’m pleased to present to this distinguished
audience the Luftwaffe’s perspective of airpower in a
multinational approach.
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The conceptual basis for this understanding has to
be seen in the light of the developments since the
end of World War II.
The Korean War, that deeply shook East-Asia, and
the reduction of conventional forces of the West-
Allies – the first peace dividend – that was not
followed by reciprocal activities of the Soviet Union
gave Germany and the Western Allies a quite clear
idea of the scale, which the confrontation with the
Soviet Union was soon to reach.
4
According to the understanding in Germany, where
we were sharing a border with the Soviet Block, the
idea of a west integration was seen as vital for
Germany´s further development, although the
question of building up new national armed forces,
the Bundeswehr, was controversially discussed in all
political and public circles.
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Therefore, there was a clear understanding in
Germany, that after the attempts to establish a
supranational European Defence Army, the new
Bundeswehr would have to be integrated into the
international structures of NATO to the utmost extent
possible, that is up to the point that national
command structures could only serve training and
routine requirements.
5
Although this multinational approach materialized on
many fields, I would like to especially reflect on those
subjects with particular military importance, that are
equipment, training and doctrine.
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Apart from the described conviction, equipping
German Armed Forces and re-establishing the
Luftwaffe would not have been possible without the
support of our Allies.
Examples for this support are the delivery of
American fighter aircraft like the F-84F
"Thunderstreak", French transport aircraft like the
"Noratlas" or the American GBAD-system "Nike-
Hercules".
6
A well appreciated side effect to this was the given
interoperability in technical as well as training terms
between Allies using common weapon systems.
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As the integration of Luftwaffe's capabilities into
NATO continued and as we were taking over new
responsibilities as an equal partner, we were
consequently modernizing our equipment.
The HAWK GBAD-system was introduced,
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the F-104G "Starfighter" got into Luftwaffe's service
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and the F-4F "Phantom II" started its still lasting
German career. However, Luftwaffe's new weapon
systems were not only coming from across the
Atlantic.
7
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The tri-national TORNADO with its training
establishment at RAF Cottesmore was early proof of
Europe’s ability to successfully tackle challenging air
force procurement programs.
With this step an additional aspect to multinationality
became apparent.
For the Luftwaffe standardization and interoperability
had to be ensured at any time by the European air-
space industry.
For us the overarching goal of Alliance and
transatlantic interoperability was not be put at risk by
an ambitious European armaments industry.
8
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A similar picture can be drawn in the area of
operational training, where we were able to take
substantial advantage of our Allies experiences.
For example pilot training was already in the early
days conducted side-by-side with the USAF on
various German Air Bases, as well in American
Training Units in the United States and Canada.
To be seen at the far left are Friedrich Obleser and
Günther Rall, which later in their career went on to
become Chief of Staff German Air Force.
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The same holds true for our GBAD units, that
received training in Fort Bliss.
9
Due to this cooperation, our air- and GBAD-crews
achieved extremely high standards and overall we
gained especially positive experiences.
Subsequently we continued to develop these training
programmes with the aim of maintaining the high
standards.
As you are aware, our pilots are now trained in Euro
NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training ENJJPT at Sheppard
AFB, and will continue to be trained there until 2016.
The GBAD training for our PATRIOT crews is still
conducted on the same post in Fort Bliss, where it all
started.
10
Beyond the operational aspects, this common
training ensures an extensive understanding of
combined operations and, not to forget, adequate
language skills for the majority of the Luftwaffe
personnel.
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Beyond equipment and personnel multinationality
was for the Luftwaffe in the very first place a question
of concepts, doctrine and operations in the Cold War
era.
From the onset our Air Forces have been
accustomed to think, train and fight in a fully
integrated, combined manner.
11
The outstanding example for this integration is the
NATO Integrated Air Defence System.
Already in the early sixties we understood, that the
crucial element for the integrity of Euro-NATO
airspace lies in centralized control by an integrated
command and decentralized execution by units using
one set of standards and one set of procedures.
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This understanding is still valid and currently being
extended to our new partners in NATO, thus
ensuring not only similar security standards, but also
procedures.
The NATO Air Policing mission over the Baltic
States, where the Luftwaffe has conducted one
rotation in Summer 2005, is a good example.
12
Looking back allow me to stress, that Germany and
the Luftwaffe treaded the multinational path very
early, very consequently and, in my opinion, in an
exemplary way.
The experiences we made clearly underline the
correctness and importance of our approach.
It therefore offers excellent prerequisites to face the
challenges of today.
The examples of previous and current operations
make this very clear.
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13
Only 9 years after reunification and 5 years after the
Federal Constitutional Court passed a legal decision,
which permitted the deployment of the Bundeswehr
out of area subject to prior approval by the German
parliament, the Luftwaffe flew some 500 missions
with our TORNADOS and employed more than 230
anti radiation missiles during Operation Allied Force.
As the Luftwaffe's first combat engagement since
World War II this was well noted throughout the
world.
But it definitely was not our first participation in
operations outside Germany.
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As a matter of fact, I can proudly stress that 50 years
of Luftwaffe actually go hand in hand with 50 years of
operations.
14
Of course, most of the operations before 1990 had a
humanitarian background, like for example the
drought in Ethiopia in 1984 or the earthquake in
Turkey in 1976.
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By now the Luftwaffe is present almost all around the
world in a great variety of scenarios.
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In addition to the ongoing operations, the Luftwaffe is
engaged in most NRF rotations and is currently on a
5-days-notice-to-move stand by for NRF 6 with
assets and troops as depicted on this slide.
This commitment is lasting until mid 2006.
15
For the first half of 2007 the Luftwaffe will provide the
entire air element to the EU Rapid Response Battle
Group package.
The Battle Group itself will consist of army forces and
dedicated key enablers from Germany, the
Netherlands and Finland.
Although relevant European concepts do not
explicitly ask for air forces, the general need for
immediately available air elements is in my opinion
undisputed.
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In this context the French-German "Rapid Response
Air Initiative" is designed to provide Rapid Response
Air Elements to the EU.
16
This initiative can therefore be seen as another step
towards an all-encompassing EU Military Rapid
Reaction Concept.
Our idea has been well recognized by several EU
Member States and consequently the EU Military
Committee is presently discussing the mandate and
further way ahead.
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This short summary shows, that the Luftwaffe, with
the only exception of evacuation operations, was, is
and will be in action only together with our friends,
allies and partners in NATO, European Union and
United Nations.
17
This of course does not mean, that our National
Interests are in anyway fuzzy, it rather denotes, that
German National Interests will only be carried
through in a multinational scope, a scope, that draws
justifiability from German history as well as from our
good experiences in the past 50 years.
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Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me now to turn to the
Luftwaffe's way ahead.
This way ahead is clearly characterized by a
significant change in our security environment since
1990.
18
New challenges arose, like new forms of conflict, i.e.
war against terrorism, like new tasks i.e. nation
building, or like an increased speed of technical
innovation.
Consequently, our Armed Forces had to adjust their
capabilities and concepts to the new challenges.
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This cannot be achieved by an ordinary incremental
approach. New challenges require new methods.
As an open-end process the concept of
Transformation takes directly into account the fast
changes in the security environment and the new
asymmetric threats we are facing.
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19
But with all our conceptual thinking we still have to
focus on the warfighter, so the overarching aim of
transformation is to improve the operational
readiness of our armed forces.
Against this background I would like to present some
highlights, that illustrate the Luftwaffe’s approach to
airpower in the 21st century and again – of course –
in the multinational context, which will shape
transformation as it left it's mark on the Cold War era.
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As far as adaptations of organisation and structures
are concerned, for example the evolution of the
European Air Transport Command (EATC)
represents in my opinion a key to building military
core capabilities in the context of the European
Security and Defence Policy (ESDP).
20
EATC is aiming to satisfy the air transport
requirements of participating European nations over
the next decades.
EATC Initial Operational Capability is envisaged for
2008. Just a few weeks ago Germany and France as
framework nations signed a Letter of Intent, which
clearly underlines our will to transfer responsibilities
and forces to the European Air Transport Command.
Although this Letter of Intend is signed only
bilaterally, Germany and France are aiming for a
multinational solution, especially with participating
nations of the European Air Lift Centre.
As European integration progresses and as ESDP
gains focus, additional possibilities for European
solutions will become visible.
21
For example the wide field of intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance presently seems to
offer considerable potential for an European
approach.
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In contrast to various projects with European
orientation, the Active Layered Theatre Ballistic
Missile Defence (ALTBMD) Programme is one, that
will be carried on within the NATO framework.
ALTBMD strives for providing protection against the
threat of ballistic missiles to our soldiers deployed on
NATO missions.
22
The launch of the ALTBMD program is the result of a
decade of transatlantic cooperation in the theatre
missile defence area and will provide a new
collective capability for common defence to the
Alliance and will establish NATO TMD capabilities.
Germany strongly supports the programme and will
contribute through various efforts, for example with
the improved German PATRIOT weapon system.
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As far as Training and Exercises are concerned, I
already mentioned the excellent experiences we
made in the past with US-led training programmes,
especially the Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training,
ENJJPT.
23
We will definitely continue to train our future fighter
pilots there, far into the next decade, because this
Undergraduate Pilot Training is the solid basis for the
development of extraordinarily skilled warfighters.
We use this basis to build knowledge, skills and
experience by a combination of national training
schedules as well as participation in multinational
exercises, such as Red Flag in the USA or Maple
Flag in Canada.
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Exercises like these provide a realistic and
challenging training environment overseas, but I
would like to point out, that one of the largest
Electronic Warfare Exercises worldwide is sponsored
every year by the Luftwaffe.
24
Exercise ELITE (Electronic Live Training Exercise)
pulls together a wide variety of airborne platforms as
well as GBAD and EW-assets that all together are
integrated in a realistic scenario, where air
operations in an EW-environment can be effectively
exercised.
Overall the Luftwaffe's idea of "Train as you fight"
requires us to exercise all operators, airborne and
ground based, in peacetime as we want them work in
actual operations:
Multinational, joint and combined.
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25
Let me now focus on the materiel side of
Transformation in the Luftwaffe.
Before I go into details of major procurement
projects, I would like to point out, that for Germany it
is of utmost importance to follow a capabilities based
approach that allow us to operate in a joint and
combined environment under network enabled
conditions where all sensors and shooters are
integrated under a single battle management system.
To this end, it simply makes sense to tackle these
challenges commonly by pursuing multinational
armaments projects smarter and more efficient than
we did in the past.
26
Being an “intelligent customer” to our armaments
industries will provide us over time the required
capabilities which will allow us to optimize our
logistical efforts for both training and operations.
In this context, multinationality will also drive forward
doctrinal, technical and logistical standardization
which will allow us to tailor the training and education
of our airmen to the operational needs.
Apart from its obvious added value, another main
driver for this approach is to save costs and to make
better use of our scarce personnel and materiel
resources by minimizing our logistical footprint in
theatre.
27
The EUROFIGHTER is an excellent example for this
common approach where multinational logistics
apply and there is still room to intensify future training
and exercise activities.
The bottom line here is: Let us follow an holistic
approach to multinationality.
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With the quadrinationally developed EUROFIGHTER
the Luftwaffe is procuring an advanced fourth-
generation fighter aircraft.
Its key attributes are agility, adaptability and
ergonomical design.
28
From my personal first-hand experience of flying this
phantastic aircraft, I can assure you that it represents
the absolute edge of technology for future scenarios.
Based on its multirole capability, the EUROFIGHTER
will be employed as an air defence fighter, with the
newly developed, highly effective short- and medium-
range air-to-air weapons IRIS-T and METEOR.
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As a fighter bomber, it will be equipped with
advanced air-to-ground weapons, such as EGBU 16,
PW IV and the modular stand-off weapon TAURUS.
The TAURUS underwent final operational testing in
November and December of last year.
29
The short video clip shows one of the test-profiles,
the attack on a concrete, bunker-type target.
CLICK on picture of bunker in lower right-hand
corner
By now the first wing, Fighter Wing 73 "Steinhoff",
has received about 20 EUROFIGHTER and is well
under way in training F-4F pilots to fly the
EUROFIGHTER.
The remaining conversion schedule for the
subsequent wings is challenging, but I have no
doubt, that we will be able to achieve our major
goals, like taking over QRA (I) responsibilities with
EUROFIGHTER by 2008 or FOC of the first German
NATO assigned air defence squadron.
30
I have ordered, that the EUROFIGHTER will
contribute its unique capabilities to Air Space security
for the first time during the 2006 Soccer World
Championship in Germany.
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The requirements with regard to mobility and
strategic air transport capabilities as defined at the
Prague Summit in November 2002 (Prague
Capabilities Commitment – PCC) will be met with the
procurement of 60 transport aircraft A400M.
The Strategic Airlift Interim Solution SALIS is
currently alleviating the existing shortfall to a
significant extent by providing strategic airlift
capabilities in a timely manner until the A400M is
introduced into service.
31
The development and procurement of new aircraft
requires considerable funding. Multi-nationality is a
very appropriate way to meet this challenge within
given financial limits.
Therefore, several European nations decided to
combine their resources and to pursue a
multinational approach in the A400M project.
With the participation of Belgium, France, Germany,
Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey and the UK in the
development and procurement process, synergetic
effects are being achieved in order to make a cost
effective and affordable solution possible.
The Luftwaffe is planning to equip two Air Transport
Wings with A400M beginning in 2010.
32
The first A400M elements will reach IOC by the end
of 2011. FOC will be achieved four years later.
The Luftwaffe will use the A400M not only for airlift in
friendly as well as hostile environment, but the
aircraft can also be employed as a tanker.
Beyond that, the Luftwaffe is presently moving ahead
to attain a vital Support Jamming capability based on
the A400M platform.
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Finally, I would like to present the Luftwaffe way
ahead on the substantial field of Unmanned Aerial
Vehicles.
33
Especially the areas of reconnaissance, all-weather,
standoff and real-time capabilities are of particular
importance for coping with future challenges.
Therefore, I envisage the use of UAV in a first step
for signal intelligence as well as imaging surveillance
and reconnaissance.
First of all, it is intended to develop and then procure
the HALE SIGINT UAV EUROHAWK based on the
US GLOBAL HAWK.
We are expecting to receive the first systems in 2009
and to reach IOC soon thereafter.
34
As a next step, we plan to introduce a "PREDATOR
B-class" MALE IMINT UAV to complement the
Reconnaissance TORNADO and reach IOC by 2010.
Although a decision on which system will be
procured has not been made yet, I would indeed
appreciate, to begin UAV operations in the Luftwaffe
with a reliable and combat proven system like the
PREDATOR B.
Moreover, we are looking forward to sharing
experiences in training and operations with Air
Forces, that are operating similar UAV systems.
35
In case of the PREDATOR B this multinational
approach to expanding capabilities on the seminal
field of UAV would reach across the Atlantic to the
United States as well as to some Nations in Europe,
like Great Britain or Italy.
Germany furthermore plans to contribute to the
development and procurement of the Alliance
Ground Surveillance (AGS) system within the
framework of NATO.
The unmanned part of NATO AGS will be a HALE
IMINT UAV, most likely similar to the
GLOBALHAWK.
36
In addition to our contribution to the NATO
programme, Germany plans to acquire a number of
these UAV systems for national use.
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I would like to underline, that the Luftwaffe sees
much more potential in UAV, than solely ISTAR
applications, especially in the area of Suppression of
enemy air defences.
We just began to look into the use of weaponized
UAV for effective air-to-ground engagement and
further down the road, Unmanned Combat Aerial
Vehicles – UCAV – are part of Luftwaffe's idea of
applying airpower in the 21st century.
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37
Ladies and Gentlemen, as outlined multinationality
for the Luftwaffe was not the mere effect of national
political interest or economical optimization, it was
the outcome of our creed, that security of the Free
World needed a combined and integrated effort.
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Against this background the Luftwaffe's way ahead is
clearly aimed towards the increase of operational
capabilities and combat effectiveness of our
operational units.
I am convinced, that we have to drastically improve
the “tooth-to-tail” ratio.
Our focus has to be on the warfighters, on an
increased operational footprint in the joint operations
area.
38
We will have to improve on C2 and all supporting
fields, i.e. logistic, maintenance etc., where lean and
standardized concepts and procedures will help to
achieve this challenging goal.
But there's another struggle we have to face. In most
of our western countries the perceived reality of
operations leads to a public opinion, that sees the
main emphasis on land or army operations.
Air Forces and their capability to deliver air power
seems to play an increasingly less important role in
stabilization operations.
We all know, that this is not what we see and learn in
day-to-day operations, we all know, that this could
lead to rash conclusions.
39
So on one hand, we have to convince the public as
well as our political leadership, that the ability to
project airpower will always play an important role in
an effect based national security framework.
Airpower leaves our governments options at hand,
that are unique and might turn out to be useful,
necessary or even vital in putting through National
Interests.
Our political leaders need to be convinced, that this
ability has to be maintained, since when it's lost,
partly or in total, it can not be regained in an
assessable period of time.
To achieve that conviction our capability to project
airpower in a coalition has to be clear and visible.
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A lack of this ability in some countries is caused by
the unavailability of required material and equipment,
but it can be caused as well by renewal cycles, that
most countries are unable to match for various, but
mostly budgetary reasons.
Since even smaller and less capable partners will
play a part in future coalitions, all efforts to bridge the
gap between the Allies have to be appreciated.
This interoperability will allow for flexible, but capable
and effective composition of alliances.
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Ladies and Gentlemen, for almost fifty years
Germany's friends and Allies stood with us to defend
freedom in Europe.
41
Now that the face and variety of possible
contemporary conflicts have changed dramatically,
Germany and the Luftwaffe is well on the way to take
over comparable responsibility in NATO, EU and
United Nations.
In that context I do have the vision of multinational
solutions in the entire spectrum of airpower,
European as well as transatlantic, that are neither
politically, nor technically, nor procedurally limited
and that will allow the Luftwaffe and the allied Air
Forces to pave the way to success in any possible
joint and combined operation.
Thank you very much for your attention.
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