Germany Readies Eurofighters And Lockheed F-35s For Tornado Missions

Tony Osborne November 12, 2025

Tornado combat aircraft — Germany’s 85-strong Tornado fleet is to shrink to just 30 aircraft when some are retired in 2030.

Credit: Tony Osborne/AW&ST

For more than 40 years, the Panavia Tornado has been the big stick of German airpower. Now, as the country prepares the type for retirement, the Tornado's missions are being split between the Eurofighter and Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Tasks including NATO’s dual-capable aircraft (DCA...

Tony Osborne

Based in London, Tony covers European defense programs. Prior to joining Aviation Week in November 2012, Tony was at Shephard Media Group where he was deputy editor for Rotorhub and Defence Helicopter magazines.

Germany Readies Eurofighters And Lockheed F-35s For Tornado Missions is available to both Aviation Week & Space Technology and AWIN subscribers.

Subscribe now to read this content, plus receive critical analysis into emerging trends, technological advancements, operational best practices and continuous updates to policy, requirements and budgets.

Already a subscriber to AW&ST or AWIN? Log in with your existing email and password.

Subscribe Log in