BERLIN: Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday that Germany will buy an additional 20 Eurofighter jets from Airbus, as part of efforts to enhance its defence capabilities.
Speaking at the International Air Show in Berlin, Scholz stated that the order will be finalized before Germany’s next general elections in 2025.
These new jets are in addition to the 38 already ordered in 2020, which were intended to replace Germany’s ageing Tornado aircraft. Scholz also affirmed Germany’s commitment to expanding export opportunities for the Eurofighter.
Furthermore, Scholz emphasized the importance of sustaining production at Airbus’s Eurofighter factory in Manching, Bavaria.
Germany’s recent boost in defence spending follows Scholz’s announcement of a special budget of 100 billion euros ($109 billion) aimed at reinforcing its military capabilities in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Addressing past criticism from NATO allies, Scholz has pledged to meet the annual target of allocating two percent of GDP towards defence expenditures starting from 2024.
