A Panavia Tornado aircraft in the Luftwaffe (German air force) flies over Schleswig, Germany, in June 2019. The Luftwaffe is beginning to phase out the Tornado in favor of the F-35, which is also nuclear-capable. (Shutterstock/VanderWolf Images)
German Air Base Readying for F-35 Deployment
Germany’s F-35s are expected to phase out its aging Panavia Tornado fighter jets, a staple of the late Cold War era.
The German Luftwaffe’s (Air Force’s) Büchel Air Base—located near the city of Bonn, the former capital of West Germany during the Cold War—remains the only location in the NATO-member nation that is capable of storing US nuclear weapons under the alliance’s nuclear-sharing agreement. It hosts the Luftwaffe’s Tactical Air Force Wing 33 (TaktLwG 33) as well as the US Air Force’s 702nd Munitions Support Squadron (702 MUNSS).
For the past four years, since Berlin announced it would adopt the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II, which is capable of carrying the B61 nuclear gravity bomb, Büchel Air Base has undergone a major upgrade to allow it to operate the F-35. This process has included refurbishing of the runway, along with reported enhancements to the security of the nuclear weapons area.
Although Büchel Air Base is a Luftwaffe facility, it was actually built after World War II by French occupational forces, and only transferred to West Germany in 1955.
Germany’s Panavia Tornado Fighter Jets Finally Up for Retirement
The Luftwaffe’s Panavia Tornado Interdiction Strike (IDS) aircraft with the Tactical Air Wing 33 were temporarily relocated to nearby Nörvenich Air Base, but began to return to Büchel Air Base earlier this month. The IDS fighter is the only non-American-developed aircraft that is currently approved to carry US nuclear weapons under NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group.
The Luftwaffe announced during last week’s ILA 2026 airshow that the first two Tornados returned to the base, and welcomed the aircraft home. The German military currently operates 90 of the multirole aircraft, including 80 active units. Two specific variants are now in service: the Tornado IDS, which is configured to carry the B61 tactical nuclear bomb; and the Tornado ECR (Electronic Combat and Reconnaissance) model, which is operated by the Tactical Air Wing 51 (TaktLwG 51) “Immelmann” and based at Schleswig-Holstein.
Writing for The National Interest last year, Harrison Kass explained that the Cold War-era Tornado was “a cornerstone of European and Middle Eastern air power for over four decades,” but that its time was “coming to a close.”
Germany will split the nuclear-sharing and strike roles of the Panavia Tornado between the F-35A and the Eurofighter Typhoon. Current plans call for Berlin to acquire upwards of 35 Lightning II stealth fighters later this decade, with the Tornado fleet to be retired by the early 2030s.
The Tornado vs. the F-35: A Head-to-Head Comparison
| Aircraft | Panavia Tornado | F-35A Lightning II |
| Year Introduced | 1979 | 2015 |
| Number Built | 990 | 1,000+ (F-35A)1,300+ (all variants) |
| Length | 16.7 m (54 ft 10 in) | 15.7 m (51 ft 4 in) |
| Wingspan | 8.6 m (28 ft 3 in) swept13.9 m (45 ft 8 in) unswept | 10.7 m (35 ft) |
| Weight (MTOW) | 27,215 kg (60,000 lb) | 31,800 kg (70,000 lb) |
| Engine(s) | Two Turbo-Union RB199-34R Mk 103 afterburning turbofan | One Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 afterburning turbofan |
| Top Speed | 2,400 km/h (1,500 mph) | ~1,930 km/h (1,200 mph) |
| Range | ~3,220 km (2,000 mi) | ~2,220 km (1,380 mi) |
| Service Ceiling | 15,240 m (50,000 ft) | 15,240 m (50,000 ft) |
| Loadout | One 27mm Mauser BK-27 revolver cannon; seven hardpoints; 9,000 kg (19,840 lb) payload capacity | One GAU-22/A 25mm rotary cannon; interal weapons bays + external hardpoints; 8,160 kg (18,000 lb) payload capacity |
| Aircrew | 2 (pilot + WSO) | 1 |
Could the German F-35 Order Be Increased?
Germany is actually a late adopter of the F-35 Lightning II, originally opting not to acquire the aircraft even as other NATO members became eager partners. Instead, Berlin sought to protect its domestic aerospace industry and to maintain European strategic autonomy from the United States. Moreover, Germany was engaged with France on the development of a stealth fighter via the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, which also included Spain as a partner.
However, following Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Berlin recognized the emerging threat and increased its defense spending. The German government further saw that the F-35 could adequately fulfill its NATO nuclear-sharing obligations.
With the collapse of the FCAS this month, there has been speculation that Germany could increase its F-35 purchase as it seeks to increase the Luftwaffe’s capabilities.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed to dozens of newspapers, magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
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