Germany has agreed to buy 20 Eurofighter planes from Airbus in the latest Tranche 5 configuration. The planes will be delivered between 2031 and 2034.
Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus defence and Space, stated that the new purchase shows how important the Eurofighter is to Germany's air defence and NATO's capabilities. He called it "a critical bridge towards the Future Combat Air System (FCAS)."
The Tranche 5 planes will have better sensors, such BAE Systems' improved E-Scan AESA radar and Saab's Arexis electronic warfare suite. This will make the Luftwaffe more aware of what's going on and help them stay alive. The Eurofighter fleet is scheduled to stay in service until the 2060s. By 2040, it will be part of FCAS operations, which will allow for missions with both manned and unmanned platforms to be carried out without any problems.
With this new deal, total global Eurofighter orders across partner and export nations have surpassed 740 aircraft.
Italy’s 2025–2027 Multi-Year Planning Document (DPP 2025-2027) allocates €690 million for 24 new Eurofighters to replace Tranche 1 aircraft retiring from 2029, supported by a €3.37 billion industrial budget through the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy. The document confirms Italy’s continued participation in modernising its fleet and aligning with the Tranche 5 standard as a transitional step towards FCAS.
Germany’s confirmed Tranche 5 procurement and Italy’s parallel funding raise a key question for Türkiye. Given Ankara’s stated interest in acquiring the “most advanced version” of the Eurofighter, the Tranche 5 configuration now appears to be the reference standard for any future negotiations.
Author: Özgür Ekşi
