How Germany Wants To Change the Air Force (Luftwaffe)

Germany just published its first national security strategy*. It has some changes from the usual, including commitments for more Air Defense, NATO, nuclear weapons and not wanting to push forward with anti-satellite systems. Oh, and nothing about drones, a bit on China and Russia, Ukraine, space, cyber, lots of EU, NATO and multilateral diplomacy. Let's talk about it!

*Reunified Germany, ignoring somewhat similar but not really similar documents.

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- Timecodes -
00:00 - Coming up
00:15 - National Security Strategy
01:40 - The Air Stuff
01:54 - Air Defense
04:07 - Anti-satellite weapon
06:58 - Nuclear Weapons
09:34 - Drones/UAVs/RPAs
09:53 - A Different Germany?
10:00 - Document of Compromise
11:07 - China
11:58 - NATO/EU
13:01 - Credible Deterrence
13:43 - Focus of the Strategy
14:29 - Space
14:55 - Your turn

- Audio -
Music and Sfx from Epidemic Sound

[nicholasshaler]

“Not a Nuke” has to be one of the most important disclaimers in history.

[spudgunn]

So it only took 30 odd years for the reunified Germany to issue their first national security strategy? Got to love that Teutonic bureaucracy!🤣

[jefff]

So Germany saying Nein to nuclear energy but Ja to nuclear weapons. Mmmkay.

[ace_of_laze]

"Effective defence includes credible deterrence aimed at preventing an armed confilct ... in the first place" - holy guacamole! our politicians did finally recognized the difference. i am ipressed

[rjeffm]

I would have liked to see something about reforming the defence acquisition process.

[goetzliedtke]

It's interesting that Germany's nuclear weapons relationship with the USA has not changed much in roughly sixty years. When I was a child, my father was a Captain in the US Army missile artillery. He commanded the (I believe) 5th Missile Detachment in Dunsen. The purpose of that unit was to safeguard the W-31 nuclear warheads for the MGR-1 Honest John missiles operated by a German missile battalion that was based nearby. At least with the Typhoon and F-35, the targets of the nuclear weapons can be more than 25 km from the launch point.

[hellbreaksloose]

I do really like this type of content. Its hard to find a summary of defense papers that are not an hour long, specially if they are not in english, so more of this would be welcomed. Kind of surprised that they would talk openly about nukes given the political coalition(me having a basic knowledge of the coalition)

[Irthex]

I don't think it's a bad idea that Germany remains very committed to towards not acting alone. Of course it's a problem when it results in Germany not being able to act alone.
It does sounds like the general conclusion of the national strategy is "continue doing what we're doing but let's do it better and with a bit less hesitance"

[yeetsalittle]

I dont think anybody really expects nukes to actually be used, so even though its not popular, its not the biggest deal. Germany would be right in the middle of a nuclear war if it breaks out regardless of if theres any nukes actually in country. Weaponized drones on the other hand are intended to be used on a regular basis, so it makes sense that it would be a more discussed topic

[bcanuck]

Had to laugh at your repeated "NOT A NUKE" captions with the F-35 dropping bombs footage.

[EricaCalman]

While intended primarily as a tactical weapon the maximum yield (~350 kt but exact classified) of the B61 is well into the range of most strategic weapons. The exact line between strategic and tactical nukes is somewhat fuzzy and you'd mostly use the B61 in its lower yield configurations with the option of using it at its full yield against more strategic targets if for whatever reason delivery by tactical strike aircraft became the best available option. Doing so would almost certainly be a one way mission though.

[watcherzero]

Things ive picked out:
*Its more a foreign policy White Paper rather than a defence white paper, only about 5 of the 74 pages are on the armed forces and none of those have anything on procurement.
*Focus on European Common Security Policy and co-operative procurement programmes as well as EU expansion saying Germany supports admitting the western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and eventually Georgia.
*Wants an international ban on weapons that dont have a human in the loop

[randmn]

Chris, I really enjoy your sense of humor! And the beginning music!

[knickebien]

The music really adds a special touch to this video.

[zdenekhruby]

340 kilotons is more than 20 times of Hiroshima bombing. Do not think a tactical nuke, this is serious firepower. It is in fact as high as strategic warheads on Minuteman or MX ICBMs (Mk 12A and Mk 21 respectively) . There is only one missile warhead currently in US arsenal, that has higher yield (W88 on Trident II D-5 SLBM), while there are many smaller warheads in the strategic arsenal (like more than 1500 stockpiled or deployed W76 Trident warheads that have 90 kilotons each).

[rodrigoquiroga]

Excellent channel !! Congrats. I will suscribe and 👍👍👍

[marvinegreen]

At 550 Km, Starlink satellites, w/o thrust, will deorbit due to atmospheric drag, in a bout 5 years. At 400 Km a satellite will deorbit in 1 yr. This goes for orbital debris from anti-satellite hits as well. With launch costs coming down the competition may devolve into expendable or fueled thrusting satellites at 400 Km, which is a self cleaning/clearing orbital altitude. Besides, mapping satellites will get better resolution at 4/5ths the distance. Partial reusability has dropped launch costs from $300 > $62 Million. Full reusability will be as impactful on the satellite business. Germany is correct in not coming late to a technical competition that is in the throws of an oncoming and radical shakeout.

[spartanx]

I wonder what the french will think about that

[sugandesenuds]

i would have loved a step more towards offensive cyber capabilities as an deterrence, but i guess the politicians said no.

[danbendix]

There's nothing aggressive about developing multi-layer air defense.