IFC 2025: Germany details Tornado capability transition to Eurofighter, F-35A

With the Tornado to be retired from service by 2030, the Luftwaffe is on a path to transfer its capabilities to the two remaining combat aircraft types it will field. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

Germany has set out its plan to transition weapons, systems, and missions from the soon-to-be retired Panavia Tornado to its Eurofighter EF-2000 and Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fleets as part of a wider recapitalisation of the Luftwaffe's air combat capabilities.

Speaking at the IQPC International Fighter Conference (IFC) 2025 running in Rome from 4 to 6 November, Bundeswehr officials noted that, with the current priority on introducing the F-35A for the shared NATO nuclear mission, emphasis will soon switch to satisfying the Luftwaffe's deep strike requirement before progressing to other capability sets.

“How do we transfer that [Tornado capability] now to other systems?” Regine Friedberger, branch chief, German Federal Ministry of Defence (Bundesministerium der Verteidigung: BMVg), posited, adding, “We want [the Eurofighter and F-35A] to be able to take on the burden and the duties that the Tornado was capable of providing to Germany.”

The primary capabilities of both the Tornado Interdiction and Strike (IDS) and Tornado Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance (ECR) variants to be transferred comprise the nuclear mission, electronic warfare (EW) including suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD)/destruction of enemy air defences (DEAD), air-to-surface (with a priority on deep strike), and tactical air reconnaissance.

Of these, air-to-surface with deep strike, EW with SEAD/DEAD, and tactical air reconnaissance are earmarked for transfer to the Eurofighter, with the nuclear mission being prioritised for the F-35A (it will also contribute towards EW with SEAD/DEAD and air-to-surface with deep strike). This all needs to happen by the time the Tornado is retired from Luftwaffe service in 2030.

Eurofighter EF-2000