FLUG REVUE March 2006: Stieglitz outlines Luftwaffe future

March 2006

AIR VICE MARSHAL KLAUS-PETER STIEGLITZ

Chief of Staff, German Air Force

“The third tranche of Eurofighters is absolutely essential”

In an interview with FLUG REVUE, Air Vice Marshal Klaus Peter Stieglitz discusses the present situation of the Luftwaffe and outlines its future prospects against a background of new challenges and tight budgets.

FLUG REVUE: The Luftwaffe is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. How does it shape up in comparison with other air forces, especially in view of the cost-cutting measures of recent years?

Air Vice Marshal Stieglitz: With its capabilities and planned future equipment projects, the Luftwaffe is fully up to international standards. Our partners are always confirming this – not least in the context of complex exercises that make high demands on flying skills, such as JPOW and Red Flag.
We make a fair contribution to the overall capability profile of the Bundeswehr. However, the constraints under which we operate mean that, like all the other Services, we are forced to prioritise our projects.

FR: Further changes are under way within the framework of “Luftwaffe Structure 6”. Once this is in place, will the Luftwaffe finally settle in again or will the transformation of the Bundeswehr demand further measures?

Air Vice Marshal Stieglitz: The adoption of Luftwaffe Structure 6 is a special challenge for everyone involved in “Team Luftwaffe” – every individual is affected either directly or indirectly by changes. We are following a clearly structured timetable and work plan aimed at harmonising what is “necessary” with what is “feasible” and “reasonable”. In this way we will ensure that organisational changes, the introduction of new weapon systems and modern technology and the adoption of a new personnel structure model without affecting our combat readiness can be implemented in as socially acceptable a way as possible. However, the implementation plan does include some structural changes that it will not be possible to implement until after 2010. Thus, for example, it will not be possible for our airborne combat units, the air transport units and operational logistics forces to adopt their target structure until considerably after 2010 due to the inflow of new weapon systems – Eurofighter, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the A400M and the NH90. This means that every individual serviceman and civilian employee will have to accept change and adaptation well into the future.

FR: The transformation of the security environment has greatly increased the likelihood of our forces being deployed abroad. Is the Luftwaffe equipped for these tasks and isn't the new distinction between high availability units and “the rest” creating problems?

Air Vice Marshal Stieglitz: By consistently orienting the organisation to the operational reality and planning equipment in a capability-oriented way, we will be able to deal with the new security challenges. Our units are trained in a mission-oriented manner. The necessary prioritisation is effected in the Luftwaffe in the form of “operational modules”. This means that every unit trains and holds available defined modules for rapid deployment, stabilisation and support forces. This approach allows us to use all the operational units regularly for the various multinational operational obligations in the context of NATO and EU. This increases flexibility, spreads the load over everyone's shoulders and ensures that high-calibre training is received on a wide front.

FR: Network centric warfare is being talked up as the answer to everything. When will the Luftwaffe be ready for this and what systems does it still have to procure to acquire such a capability?

Air Vice Marshal Stieglitz: A network centric warfare capability will be absolutely essential in the future if we are to take part in tri-service and multinational missions. The technological milestones to achieving such a capability are the gradual introduction of the LINK 16 tactical data link format for all airborne and ground-based weapon systems, the introduction of the NATO Air Command & Control System (ACCS) and the concrete building up of the Functional Area Service Air in the military command and control information system.
But network centric warfare is not simply a matter of technology; it begins with the servicemen and women who are required to apply and shape the network centric warfare principle. Extensive measures have already been initiated in the Luftwaffe with this end in mind.

FR: Precision and stand-off weapons are essential today. The Luftwaffe is to be equipped with the highly sophisticated Taurus system, but what will it do with 600 units? Might it not be more useful, given the likely scenarios, to spend the money on small diameter bombs?

Air Vice Marshal Stieglitz: The present, target-oriented calculation of the operational need for the modular stand-off weapon Taurus takes into account not only the NATO requirements but also the unit numbers required for EU-level conflict prevention and crisis management missions. Taurus is a weapon which in the context of effect-based operations opens up a broad operational spectrum. We are watching closely developments in the area of small diameter bombs and, if necessary, we will consider the possibility of procuring them at the proper time.

FR: The question of the order for the third tranche of Eurofighters is always in the air. What does the Luftwaffe need these aircraft for?

Air Vice Marshall Stieglitz: The Eurofighter is the future system of the Luftwaffe. When the third tranche of aircraft enter into service, the replacement of the Luftwaffe's airborne weapon systems will be complete. As this state-of-the-art, high-performance combat aircraft of the 4th generation is rolled out across the Luftwaffe, the stock of older fighter aircraft will be significantly reduced, once again with the aim of permanently lowering or containing operating costs. Once the target structure is adopted, the Luftwaffe will from 2015 have a total of 180 Eurofighters and 85 Tornados available with which to perform its duties.
Only if it is introduced on the scale planned, both in the air-to-air and air-to-ground roles, will we be able to reduce the stock of older fighter aircraft in the Luftwaffe and thus to improve the capabilities required. Thus the procurement of the third tranche of Eurofighters is imperative if capability gaps in air defence and air attack are to be avoided.

FR: When it comes to technical support for the Eurofighter, the Luftwaffe is working closely with industry. It demands the transfer of additional tasks. How far can you go without jeopardising support in the operational area and running the risk of losing your own expertise?

Air Vice Marshall Stieglitz: Industry is not asking for any “transfer of additional tasks”. The cooperative relationship between industry and Luftwaffe has been constructive and effective for many years.
Maintaining the operational readiness and low-cost operation of our modern weapon systems with new technologies despite declining unit numbers calls for innovative solutions such as facilities run jointly with industry. As far as the Luftwaffe is concerned, it will retain not only the essential military core capabilities, such as support for our operational forces in aircraft maintenance and weapon system support, but also its own cognitive powers and assessment capabilities.

FR: The Global Hawk/Eurohawk is to be procured for SIGINT tasks and also within the framework of the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance capability. What other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are you interested in acquiring after that?

Air Vice Marshal Stieglitz: The Luftwaffe views UAVs as a possible means of closing identified capability gaps. Development of the UAV HALE (High Altitude Long Endurance) Eurohawk for wide-area signal intelligence is under way. This will be followed by a “system for imagery intelligence deep in the operational area”, which has the working designation of MALE (Medium Altitude, Long Endurance). The acquisition of Global Hawk for wide-area imaging intelligence is envisaged as a national add-on to the NATO AGS system. The Luftwaffe is also looking into the possible use of UAVs for other capability categories.

FR: And what is the situation as regards unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs)?

Air Vice Marshal Stieglitz: We are also looking into unmanned systems in the capability category “Operational effectiveness”, i.e. for example, as unmanned combat aerial vehicles. The main advantages here are the high endurance in the operational area and the possibility of deploying them throughout the threat spectrum. Other possible applications are operational roles in the areas of electronic warfare, the suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD) and air attack either as the weapon platform or as a target designator. The Luftwaffe is following technological possibilities in this area with close interest.

FR: Moving on to air transport, the An-124 is being used as a temporary solution until the A400M enters into service. In this area the European Airlift Centre already functions as a co-ordination centre. Would a joint fleet on the lines of AWACS not be more effective?

Air Vice Marshal Stieglitz: The 15 nations participating in the Strategic Air Lift Interim Solution (SALIS) project came out in favour of implementing an An-124 solution after extensive feasibility studies. This means that six An-124-100's based at Leipzig airport will be available to transport NATO rapid reaction forces and EU battle groups at short notice. Operational management of SALIS resources will be the responsibility of the Strategic Airlift Co-ordination Cell (SALCC), which is co-located with the European Airlift Centre (EAC). This multinational approach will maximise the synergy effects and ensure that the available SALIS resources are deployed efficiently. The other tasks of the EAC have yet to be defined, but there are no plans at present for a joint fleet on the lines of AWACS.

FR: MEADS is under development for air defence/missile defence. Isn't this system much too expensive and rather an overkill in terms of performance?

Air Vice Marshal Stieglitz: The operational requirements for the MEADS weapon system were drawn up logically and with a view to the future operational and threat spectrums. The top priority here is the protection of our service personnel in the field, including explicitly against tactical ballistic missiles. The capabilities of MEADS, such as the 360 degree engagement capability, the possibility of transporting it using national resources, the modular structure and the plug-and-fight capability which enables rapid integration into network centric warfare and, last but not least, the cost efficiency arising from integration of a second, cheaper missile do not amount to “overkill” but are the right answer to the requirements of tomorrow!

FR: You are attaching more and more importance to the use of space-supported systems. What specifically do you want these to achieve? What is already under development and where do gaps remain?

Air Vice Marshal Stieglitz: The results of the “Extension of the capability spectrum of German forces using space” study are currently being evaluated. Benefits are expected for capability categories command and control capability, intelligence gathering and reconnaissance and also for navigation. Existing capability gaps in strategic command support and reconnaissance will soon be closed with the Satellite Communications for the German Armed Forces (SATCOMBw) Stage 2 and SARLupe systems and participation in the French system Helios 2.

FR: On the one hand the Luftwaffe is downsizing, while on the other hand extremely well trained specialists will increasingly be needed in the future. Do you have enough qualified young people or are there problems in some areas?

Air Vice Marshal Stieglitz: Fortunately, interest in serving with the Luftwaffe is holding up. This is seen in the high numbers of applications we receive for a career as an officer, especially in roles that entail flying, which means we can be selective about whom we accept.
Demand is largely covered in the NCO area as well. But it is in the broad spectrum of technical applications that we always have a need for qualified applicants. Here we prefer volunteers who have already acquired civilian qualifications that are useful to the military. These applicants are taken on at higher ranks. Applicants without civilian qualifications are offered military technical training leading to a qualification at journeyman level that is recognised in civilian life. As far as the other men are concerned, we are also always on the lookout for volunteers who want to work in the Luftwaffe for four years or want to test us out before entering a higher grade career path.
We are also in a strong position as regards what we offer for the future. I would welcome greater interest from female applicants, to whom the Luftwaffe also offers a number of attractive openings.

FR: How do you envisage the Luftwaffe in 25 and 50 years' time?

Air Vice Marshall Stieglitz: I think looking ahead for half a century is a little ambitious, but I will nevertheless attempt an answer.
I imagine an operational air force which, as an integral element of German and allied forces, makes valuable contributions to effect-based and network centric warfare and is able to fulfil its responsibilities both nationally and in multi-nation operations without constraints. The capability profile is characterised by high adaptability, superiority as to information and weapons effect for the entire spectrum of possible deployment options. The capability platforms are versatile, capable of rapid and flexible deployment and are in a position to develop air power with optimum effect and fully tailored to the overarching political objectives. The members of the “Team Luftwaffe” speak English, have had excellent training, are fully competent and highly motivated. Equipment, structures, operation and procedures are deployment-oriented and guarantee high efficiency. Essentially, therefore, an air force such as we are already planning with Luftwaffe Structure 6!

Karl Schwarz was asking the questions.

From FLUG REVUE 3/2006

Last updated 10 February 2006

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