List of active equipment of the German Air Force

This list intends to give an accurate detail list of the equipment currently fielded by the German Air Force.

Current inventory

Aircraft operated by the Luftwaffe

Aircraft	Origin	Image	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Combat aircraft
Eurofighter Typhoon	Germany Italy Spain United Kingdom		Interceptor	T1	31	[1] Status: 138 in service (as of 2025)[1] 33 Eurofighter T1 ordered[2], 2 retired 79 Eurofighter T2 ordered[2], 2 lost[3][4], 1 retired[5] 31 Eurofighter T3A ordered[2] 38 Eurofighter T4 on order[6]
			Swingrole	T2	76
			Swingrole	T3A	31
Panavia Tornado	Germany Italy United Kingdom		multirole	IDS	68	[7]
			SEAD / ECR (Electronic Combat Reconnaissance)	ECR	21	[7]
Military Transport / Aerial refueling
Airbus A400M	Spain Belgium France Germany Turkey United Kingdom		tactical airlifter / aerial refueling	A400M	50	[8][9] Equipment of the A400M of the Bundeswehr: at least 4 refuelling kits[10] 23 DIRCM (Directed Infrared Counter Measures) systems ordered in June 2025[11][12]
Lockheed Martin C-130J	United States		tactical airlifter	C-130J-30	3	[13]
			tactical airlifter / aerial refueling	KC-130J	3	[14]
Helicopter
Airbus Helicopters H145	Germany		light utility	EC645 T2 LUH SOF	16	German Air Force as a special forces transport helicopter and has been configured to support their missions both during the day and night. Flown by Special Forces Command[15]
Eurocopter AS532	France		VIP transport	AS532 U2	3	[16]
Sikorsky CH-53	United States		transport	CH-53G	66	[17]
Trainer aircraft
Grob G 120	Germany		basic trainer	G 120A	6	[18] / [18]
				G 120TP	5
Northrop T-38	United States		jet trainer	T-38C	46	[19]
UAVs
IAI Heron	Israel		surveillance	Heron 1	5 [20]	Being replaced by Heron TP[20]
			surveillance and combat	Heron TP (Eitan)	5 [20]	5 under lease, with 3 additional planned.[20][21]
Transport - "Grey Fleet"
Airbus A321neo	France Germany		Transport and MEDEVAC	A321LR	2	[22]
Transport - "White Fleet"
Airbus A319	France Germany		VIP transport	A319CJ	2	Passenger and material transport, strategic patient air transport or flights within the framework of arms control[16]
			Open Skies	A319OH	1	The new observation platform OH ("Offener Himmel" = "Open Sky") is equipped with electro-optical sensors, an EO-S/digital camera and an infrared sensor (IR-S) based on an A319CJ from Lufthansa Technik.[23]
Airbus A321	France Germany		VIP, troops transport	A321-200	1	[16]
Airbus A350	France Germany		VIP, troops transport	ACJ350	3	[24]
Bombardier Global 5000	Canada		VIP transport	Global 5000	3	[16]
Bombardier Global 6000	Canada		VIP transport	Global 6000	3	[25][26][16]

Aircraft provided by contractors

Aircraft	Origin	Contractor	Image	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Aircraft
PZL M28 Skytruck (with underbelly luggage pod)	Poland Ukraine	PD Sicherheit		Paratrooper training	—	3	[27]
Helicopters
Airbus H135	Germany	DL Helicopter Technik		Training helicopter	EC 135P2+		Contract extended in July 2021.[28] 1 lost in July 2025.[29]
Airbus H145	Germany	NHV [de]		Training helicopter	H145 D2	1	Used to train KSK pilots.[30][31][32]
					H145 D3	2

International collaborations with the Luftwaffe participation

Aircraft	Origin	Operator	Image	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Aerial refueling
Airbus A330 MRTT Multi-Role Tanker Transport	France Germany Spain United Kingdom	MMF [de] Multinational MRTT Fleet Belgium Czechia Denmark Germany Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Sweden		Tanker / transport aircraft / medical evacuation	A330-200 MRTT	9 (+3 on order) [33]	[34] Based at the Eindhoven Air Base in the Netherlands.[35] 2 ordered in July 2016 (first members Netherlands and Luxembourg)[36] 5 ordered in September 2018 (Germany and Norway joined the programme)[37] 1 ordered in February 2018 (Belgium joined the programme)[36] 1 ordered in September 2020 (Luxembourg increases participation)[38] 1 ordered in March 2023 (Belgium increases participation)[39] 2 ordered in June 2025 (arrival of Sweden and Denmark in the programme)[40] The first aircraft entered service in June 2020, the ninth in February 2025).
Air surveillance
Boeing E-3 Sentry	United States	NAEW&CF programme (NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force) Belgium Canada Czechia Denmark Germany Greece Hungary Italy Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Turkey Spain United States		AEW&C (Airborne early warning and control)	E-3A	14 [33]	[41] Based at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, Germany. 18 E-3 used initially, and to be replaced by the E-7 Wedgetail, of which 6 were ordered in January 2024.[42][43]
Boeing E-7 Wedgetail	United States			AEW&C (Airborne early warning and control)	E-7A	0 (+ 6 on order) [33]
Northrop Grumman – RQ-4 Global Hawk	United States	AGS (Alliance Ground Surveillance) Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Estonia Germany Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Norway Poland Romania Slovakia Slovenia United Kingdom United States		UAV HALE, ISR, Combat (Unmanned aerial vehicle high altitude long endurance, intelligence surveillance reconnaissance)	RQ-4D Phoenix (Block 40)	5	[44]

Armament

Weapons and equipment used on each aircraft

Panavia Tornado IDS variant

The IDS standard variant is a strike aircraft. The Recce sub-variant can perform all tasks of the IDS, and is capable of performing reconnaissance missions with a pod. This variant has a modified cockpit cabling and a different cockpit display (ASSTA-1 modernisation).^[45]

• Canon: Mauser BK-27
• Air-Air missiles: AIM-9L Sidewinder, IRIS-T
• Air-ground missiles: AGM-88B HARM Block IIIB, Taurus KEPD 350, Laser-Guided Sidewinder^[46]
• Guided bombs: GBU-24 Paveway III (MK-84 or BLU-109), GBU-38 / 54 JDAM (MK-82 bomb body),^[47]
• Unguided bombs: MK-82
• Nuclear bombs: B61-3 and B61-4
• Pods: Litening II (Rafael), Airborne Reconnaissance Pod II (ARP II)

Tornado ECR

An electronic warfare and SEAD / DEAD aircraft ^[45].

• Canon: Mauser BK-27
• Air-to-Air missiles: AIM-9L, IRIS-T
• Anti-radiation missiles: AGM-88B HARM Block IIIB
• Guided bombs: GBU-38 / 54 JDAM (MK-82 bomb body)
• Unguided bombs: MK-82, MK-83, MK-84
• Other: ECM pods (including jammers), passive radar, and ECCM equipment

Eurofighter T1

• Canon: Mauser BK-27^[48]
• Air-Air missiles: AIM-9L, AIM-120B AMRAAM, IRIS-T^{[49][50][51][52]}
• Guided bombs: GBU-48 Paveway III^[53]
• Pods: Rafael Litening III

Eurofighter T2, T3 and T4

• Canon: Mauser BK-27^[48]
• Air-Air missiles: AIM-9L, AIM-120B, IRIS-T, AIM-120C5, Meteor^{[49][50][51][52]}
• Air-ground missiles: AGM-88E^[54][55] Brimstone 3
• Guided bombs: GBU-48 Paveway III, GBU-54 Laser-JDAM,^[53][56][47]
• Pods: Rafael Litening III, Litening V ordered^[57]

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

• Canon: GAU-22/A
• Air-Air missiles: AIM-9X, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-132 ASRAAM, Meteor
• Air-Surface missile: AGM-158 Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile, AGM-158C LRASM
• Guided bombs: Joint Direct Attack Munition, Paveway

Complementary elements for some weapons

Conventional Guided bombs:

• GBU-24, 907 kg bomb with a Paveway II semi-active laser guidance system, a FBM21 fuse and:
  • MK-84 bomb body, or
  • BLU-109 penetration bomb
• GBU-38 JDAM, 277 kg bomb with a JDAM guidance system (GPS/INS), MK-82 bomb body and FBM21 fuse.
• GBU-54 Laser-JDAM, 277 kg bomb made of the L-JDAM guidance system (passive laser seeker, GPS/INS), MK-82 bomb body and a FBM21 bomb fuse and an APS (adjustable proximity sensor).
• GBU-48, 454 kg bomb made of the Enhanced Paveway II guidance system (passive laser seeker, GPS/INS), MK-83 bomb body and FBM21 bomb fuse.

Air defence systems

Surface-to-air missiles

Model	Image	Origin	Type	Number	Notes
MIM-104 Patriot Mobile and Protected Signals Intelligence		Germany United States	SAM	9 [58]	During Cold War, Germany had 36 Patriot systems in service. As of May 2025, the German Air Force operates 9 Patriot systems.[58] The systems in service are upgraded to PAC-3 standard, and it is equipped with PAC-2 and PAC-3 CRI missiles in service. Germany has also PAC-3 MSE and PAC-2 GEM-T missiles on order. The launchers will be converted to be capable to operate the PAC-3 MSE missiles.[59][60]
IRIS-T SLM Part of the ESSI		Germany	Tactical air defense system	1 (+5 on order) [61]	It is based on the IRIS-T air-to-air missile[62] equipped with an enlarged rocket motor, data link, and jettisonable drag-reducing nose cone.[63] The radar system expected is the Hensoldt TRML-4D, and it should be supported by the Integrated Battle Management Software Fire Control System (IBMS-FS) by Airbus. Six batteries are purchased for €950 million and the delivery will start from 2024,[64] 8 in total are expected eventually. First delivery in August 2024.[61]
Ozelot LeFlaSys (leichtes Flugabwehrsystem)	FlaRaWaTrg: AFF: BF/UF:	Germany United States	Light SHORAD	67 vehicles	System based on Wiesel 2 vehicles, composed of the variants: 50 FlaRaWaTrg weapon carriers equipped with 3FIM-92 Stinger missiles (+ 4 in storage) 7 AFF radar and fire control posts equipped with a 3D radar, a IFF system and a command system 10 BF/UF ("FlaFührung"), platoon command posts Operated by the 3rd Squadron of 61 Surface-to-Air Missile Group. A standard battery is made of 1 AFF[65] 1 BF/UF 5–8 FlaRaWaTrg

Radar systems

Model	Image	Origin	Type	Quantity	Notes
Ground Master 406F		France United States	Early warning, 3D, S-band (IEEE), AESA radar	6	Modified variant of the GM403 for the German forces, for a fixed radar system.[66] Operated by the "Operational Command Service" of the Luftwaffe (EinsFüDstLw). Manufactured by Thales Raytheon Systems.[67]
HADR NF		Germany Israel	Early-warning, 3D, F-band (IEEE), phased array radar	4	[68][69][70]
RRP 117		United States	Early warning, 3D, L-band (IEEE), AESA radar	8	Under radome, in service since 1998[71][72][73][74]
Selex RAT-31DL		Italy	Early warning, 3D, L-band (IEEE), solid state phased array radar	2	500 km range[75][76]
Hensoldt’s ASR-S	(Illustration image)	Germany	Airport surveillance radar	20	Radar used for: approach control at the airfields airspace surveillance in order to coordinate and integrate the military movements within the civilian traffic (100 km radius)[77]

Navigation equipment

Model	Image	Origin	Type	Quantity	Notes
TACAN		Germany	Tactical air navigation	—	[78]

Future equipment for the German Air Force

Aircraft

List of new aircraft ordered

Aircraft	Origin	Image	Type	Variant	Ordered	Notes
Combat aircraft
Eurofighter Typhoon	Germany Italy Spain United Kingdom		Swingrole	T4	38	[79]
			Swingrole	T5	(20)	Planned order[80]
			SEAD / ECR (Electronic Combat Reconnaissance)	ECR	15	[81][82]
Lockheed Martin F-35	United States		multirole / nuclear deterrent bomber	F-35A	35	[83] Purchased to continue German contribution to the Nuclear sharing B61-12
Helicopter
CH-47 Chinook	United States		Heavy transport helicopter	CH-47F Block II	60	[84]
H145	Germany		Attack helicopter	H145M	5	62 ordered by the German military, 5 for the Luftwaffe, 57 for the army. 20 additional ones are on option.[85]
UAVs
Eurodrone	France Germany Italy Spain		surveillance, reconnaissance and combat	—	21	7 systems on contract with 21 drones for €3 billion[86][87]
SIGINT
PEGASUS	Germany Canada United States		Surveillance	Global 6000	3	Ordered in 2021, to enter service by 2025 and replace the Eurohawk[25][26][16]

Aircraft to be replaced

List of aircraft that are planned to be replaced in a near future for which the successor has not yet been selected.

Aircraft	Origin	Image	Type	Quantity	Notes
Eurocopter AS532 U2	France		VIP transport	3	€200 million budget for the replacement. It is planned to be replaced from 2027 (after 30 years in service).[88]

Equipment for future German aircraft

F-35 (future equipment)

Future aircraft for the German Air Force, to take over the nuclear deterrence mission and to be used as a strike aircraft as well:^[89]

• Cannon: GAU-22/A (25 mm)
• Air-to-Air missiles: AIM-9X Block 2, AIM-120C8
• Air-ground missiles: AGM-158B/B2 JASSM-ER
• Guided bombs: GBU-53, GBU-31 (BLU-109 2000LB HP), GBU-54 (MK82)
• Other: DSU-38 Laser Illuminated Target Detectors for GBU-54
• Nuclear bomb: B61-12 (it will equip the F-35, designed to be stored internally)^[90]

Eurofighter ECR

• Electronic Attack configuration^[91]
  • Canon: Mauser BK-27
  • Air-to-Air missiles: 2 IRIS-T, 4 Meteor
  • Anti-radiation missiles: 2 AGM-88E
  • Pod: 2 escort jammer Saab Arexis, 3 fuel tanks^[92][93]
• SEAD configuration^[91]
  • Canon: Mauser BK-27
  • Air-to-Air missiles: 2 IRIS-T, 4 Meteor
  • Anti-radiation missiles: 2 AGM-88E, 6 SPEAR-EW^[91]
  • Pod: 3 fuel tanks

Future weapons

Purchases confirmed

System	Image	Origin	Type	Number	Notes
SAM Systems
Arrow 3		Israel United States	Anti-ballistic missile	3	The sale has been approved by Israel and the USA. The contract cost is $3.5 billion and Germany already paid a $600 million initial payment[94][95]
MIM-104 Patriot PAC-3+ Part of the ESSI		Germany United States	SAM /Anti-ballistic missile	8	Orders: 4 fire units ordered to Raytheon, confirmed in March 2024, $1.2 billion cost.[96] 4 fire units approved by the parliament in July 2024 for €1.35 billion[97] The contracts include the fire units, spare parts and support services.
SAM missiles
MIM-104 Patriot - PAC-2 GEM-T		Germany United States	Surface-to-air missiles	200 (+ 300 on option)	Framework agreement for up to 500 missiles approved in December 2023 for €3.01 billion.[98] The missiles will be assembled in Germany, and the main subcontractors will be MBDA, Bayern Chemie, TDW Gesellschaft für Wirksysteme, Sener Aerospacial and RTX.[99] Orders: 100 confirmed order for €602.1 million[100] 100 ordered in August 2024 for €430 million[101] (after approval by the Bundestag in July 2024[102])
MIM-104 Patriot - PAC-3 MSE		United States	Surface-to-air missiles	248	Germany cleared by DSCA to purchase up to 600 missiles in August 2024.[103] In December 2024, the German parliament approved the purchase of 120 and 128 missiles in two different instances.[59][60]
Air-to-air missiles
Meteor		United Kingdom Germany France Italy Spain Sweden	Air-to-air missiles	— (€521 million)	Approved for purchase in November 2024.[104]
AIM-120C AMRAAM		United States	Air-to-air missiles	105	Ordered with the F-35A.[105]
AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM		United States	Air-to-air missiles	— (969 planned)	In July 2023, the US State Department approved the sale of AIM-120C8 for €2.61 billion. It includes: 969 AIM-120C-8 + 12 guidance sections + Captive Air Training Missiles + support equipment.[106] In May 2024, the Parliamentary Budget Committee approved the purchase of an unknown quantity of missiles for €178 million.[107]
IRIS-T		Germany	Air-to-air missiles	120 (+ 1,160 in option)	Ordered in December 2023. €108 million for the 120 first missiles in the LFK version (air-air).[108] Approval to modernise and maintain the IRIS-T missiles in December 2024.[60]
Air-to-ground missiles
Joint Strike Missile		Norway	Cruise missile	—	Planned to purchase JSM for a value of NOK 6.5 billion expressed by the government. It needs to be confirmed by the parliament.[109] At the end of June 2025, the German and Norwegian defence ministers signed an agreement for a value of €478.7 million. The first delivery is expected before the end of 2027.[110]
Brimstone 3		United Kingdom	Air-to-surface missiles	379	Framework agreement for 3,266 missiles approved in June 2024.[111] Orders: June 2024 379 missiles for €376 million[112][113] 274 missiles + launchers ordered to MBDA Deutschland[111] 29 missiles for operational testing + 75 missiles for telemetry[111]
Radars
Indra S3TSR "L-Guard" (LEO- Ground based Upscaled AESA RaDar)		Spain	Space surveillance radar	1	Low Earth orbit surveillance radar operating from 200 to 2,000 km.[114] Ordered in February 2025 to Indra.
Pods
Litening V		Israel	Targeting pod	90	Approved for purchase in June 2025, budget of €350 million.[115]

Potential future equipment

The equipment mentioned here is part of the program NNbS, ("Nah- und Nächstbereichs-schutz"), close air-support for the ground troops. At the moment, no decision has been made regarding the operator of those systems, it could go to the Bundeswehr or the Luftwaffe. In 2010, the German forces decided to retire the last 90 Flakpanzer Gepard. In 2012, the air defense of the Bundeswehr was completely disbanded. The Luftwaffe was to support the German forces with their Wiesel 2 Ozelot, and German soldiers had access to FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS.

This equipment described below is the most likely candidates that have been mentioned by the German military and by the German defence industry. More details can be found on the page "List of modern equipment of the German Army".

System	Image	Notes
Lockheed Martin F-35		8 additional being considered.[116]
LuWES "Luftgestützte Wirkung im elektromagnetischen Spektrum"		Airborne Effects in the Electromagnetic Spectrum planned to be purchased, potential platforms include Airbus airliners or the A400M.[117]
AGM-158B JASSM-ER		75 planned by the Bundeswehr.[118]
AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM		The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) asked for the Congress approval of potentially USD $2.90 billion in military sales for the German Air Force on the 19th of July 2023.[119][120] This sale would include: 969 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM ≤ 12 AMRAAM C8 guidance sections AIM-120 Captive Air Training Missiles Support equipment (telemetry kit and control section spares and containers, spare parts and support)
Patriot system maintenance		120 carrier vehicles to be ordered 129 power systems[121]
WRÜbwR Weltraumüberwachungsradars		Approval for the purchase of a space surveillance radar.[60]

See also

• Aviation portal

• Luftstreitkräfte der NVA
• Glossary of German military terms
• Kommando LSK/LV
• List of military aircraft of Germany
• Luftwaffenmuseum, Berlin