The brand new Eurofighters, set to be delivered between 2031 and 2034, will change a part of the German Air Drive’s Tornados.
Germany has signed on Oct. 15, 2025, the contract for the acquisition of 20 new Eurofighters (Germany doesn’t use the identify Storm) as a part of the Tranche 5. The order comes per week after the Funds Committee of the German Bundestag authorized the procurement on Oct. 8.
Underneath the contract, Airbus will produce the plane at its closing meeting line in Manching, Germany, equally to the opposite plane already acquired by the German Air Drive. The primary plane is scheduled for supply in 2031, whereas the final shall be delivered in 2034.
“Right now’s signature is a proud second and follows in depth collaboration and onerous work between NETMA, Nations and our trade companions,” mentioned Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Simon Ellard (ret.), Common Supervisor of NETMA.
Simply introduced: Germany orders 20 new #Eurofighter Typhoons – also referred to as Tranche 5 – to strengthen air superiority.
To the complete press launch: pic.twitter.com/0CPi7jKFBL
— Airbus Defence (@AirbusDefence) October 15, 2025
Neither Eurofighter nor Airbus supplied details about the worth of the contract. Nonetheless, the press launch of the Ministry of Protection final week talked about the contract is value €3.75 billion ($4.36 billion).
Tranche 5
As we beforehand reported right here at The Aviationist, the then German Chancellor Olaf Scholz introduced in the course of the opening of the ILA Berlin Air Present 2024 the order of the Eurofighter Tranche 5 by the top of 2025, along with the 38 ordered as a part of Mission Quadriga. Scholz described the deal as a part of the dedication to sustaining and increasing arms manufacturing capability, in addition to strengthening Germany’s dedication to NATO.
“This new order is additional proof of the Eurofighter’s significance to the German Air Drive and the strategic position it performs in our nation’s air defence and NATO capabilities,” mentioned Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and House.
Airbus mentioned in its press launch that it’ll equip the 20 Eurofighters with the most recent sensors. Amongst these is particularly talked about the brand new digital E-Scan radar, also referred to as the European Frequent Radar System (ECRS) Mk 1 AESA (Lively Electronically Scanned Array) radar.
In parallel, Airbus says it can add new digital warfare capabilities by integrating the Saab Arexis sensor suite in current and newly constructed plane. This modification, though it wasn’t particularly talked about, is a part of the Eurofighter EK (Digital Fight) configuration.
These new plane will possible be within the Part 4 Enhancement (P4E) configuration, additionally introduced final 12 months. This incorporates numerous new developments, together with an automatic sensor administration functionality for all Storm radars that may permit to take advantage of the capabilities of the brand new AESA radar to finish a number of simultaneous duties, whereas decreasing the pilot workload.
The package deal can also be mentioned to incorporate an improved cockpit interface and enhanced Radio Frequency Interoperability (RFIO), which is able to enhance survivability and lethality. Whereas the event of a Giant Space Show for the Storm has been confirmed, it’s unknown presently if it is going to be included within the new improved cockpit interface.
With these upgrades, the Eurofighter is deliberate to stay in service with the German Air Drive till the 2060s. The German Ministry of Protection beforehand confirmed that the Eurofighters of the Tranche 5 shall be used to progressively switch the capabilities of the growing old Twister ECR (Digital Fight and Reconnaissance).
Furthermore, the Eurofighter is deliberate to function alongside the Future Fight Air System (FCAS), which is scheduled to be operational from 2040. Throughout the FCAS ecosystem, the Eurofighter will function in a community with each present and future crewed and uncrewed plane.
“The continued evolution of the Eurofighter serves as a necessary technological and operational bridge to a Future Fight Air System (FCAS), guaranteeing a seamless transition to the subsequent technology of air energy. With these extra Eurofighters, Germany strengthens its means to conduct surveillance of its airspace and safe NATO’s skies, supporting Germany in its position as a dependable companion for collective safety,” added Schoellhorn.
Eurofighter EK
Along with the Tranche 5, Germany has additionally authorized a contract to proceed the work on the Eurofighter EK. This variant was initially green-lighted by the German Authorities in 2023, after Airbus introduced its growth because the Eurofighter ECR (Digital Fight/Reconnaissance) in 2019.
The Eurofighter EK is a devoted Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) variant which is being developed because the successor to the Twister ECR. Airbus will equip 15 German Eurofighters for digital fight, which shall be NATO-certified by 2030 and can then change the Twister ECR within the SEAD position.
The Eurofighter EK will use the AGM-88E AARGM, the Saab Arexis Digital Warfare suite and different applied sciences developed by small and medium-sized enterprises and a start-up. Notably, these embody an AI resolution that makes it doable to investigate radar knowledge on-board and rapidly decide exact self-protection measures.
Additional confirming this, the MoD mentioned “The Eurofighter is to be optimized with the AREXIS self-protection system and corresponding air-to-ground guided missiles and additional enabled for digital warfare.” Arexis, which is outfitted with high-power gallium nitride GaN AESAs and ultra-wideband receivers and Digital Radio Frequency Recollections (DRFMs) and is alleged to be able to neutralizing Anti Entry/Space Denial (A2/AD) techniques, will change the 2 wingtip pods of the Eurofighter.
The event of the venture, scheduled to run till 2033, requires €1.13 billion ($1.31 billion), says the MoD, whereas the procurement of the parts is estimated at €82 million ($95 million). This confirms the beforehand disclosed timeline of the plane being fielded within the early 2030s.
It now seems that the 15 jets already deliberate to change into Eurofighter EKs shall be taken from the stock of plane already in service and shall be transformed. The Tranche 5 plane, contemplating the MoD particularly acknowledged they may change the Twister ECR, will are available the identical configuration, probably from the manufacturing unit.
