Ready for Rapid, Decisive Action

General, what significance does ILA Berlin have for the German Air Force, and what are your priorities this year?

ILA is a central meeting point for the Air Force, bringing together politics, the armed forces, industry and academia. This makes it a place where security policy developments, technological innovation and military perspectives converge. For us, a key aspect is the opportunity to showcase our unique capabilities to a broad audience. Alongside reflecting on our 70-year history, we want to present ourselves as modern, innovative and highly capable, both as a military service branch and as an attractive employer with strong team spirit.

At the same time, ILA is an important forum for dialogue with industry. Modern air and space forces would be inconceivable without innovation, partnerships built on trust and shared responsibility. It also opens up opportunities for us to jointly develop solutions that strengthen our operational readiness and deterrence capability over the long term.

What will be crucial for the Air Force in the coming years?

Our mission is clear: we must be able to monitor and protect both German and NATO airspace, as well as space, against attacks at all times. If deterrence within NATO fails, we must be able to act quickly and effectively, both defensively and offensively, in a collective defence scenario. Three things are essential:

1. First: technology. With modern systems, such as the F-35, the Arrow missile defence system and new sensors, we are strengthening our capabilities across all domains, from the ground to space. Unmanned systems, artificial intelligence (AI) and the rapid integration of innovation will also play a major role.
2. Second: integration. Modern air and space operations only function as a system of systems. The networking of sensors, effectors and command structures is decisive to remain responsive and capable in complex threat environments. This applies to technologies and procedures alike. The Air Force thinks and acts in a “joint and combined” manner in cooperation with other domains and international partners.
3. Third, and most importantly: people. Highly qualified and motivated military personnel, alongside our civilian staff, are the key to operational readiness and military strength. Technology alone does not win battles; trained personnel do.

What role do you think air assets will play in future scenarios?

Air forces will continue to play a central role in future conflicts. Combined with the space domain, air power offers unique advantages, such as speed, reach and flexibility. It enables rapid effects and can decisively influence outcomes on the battlefield. Space has also become a military operational domain in its own right, and the Air Force is responsible for protecting Germany’s interests in space.

The war in Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East clearly demonstrate how decisive control of the airspace is. Without air superiority, risks to one’s own forces increase significantly, while defending critical infrastructure becomes far more difficult. Modern air operations now extend well beyond traditional air combat. They cover a broad spectrum, including persistent surveillance, real-time situational awareness, layered air defence, precision strikes deep into enemy territory, electronic warfare, networked command and control, and integration with land and maritime forces – also using space-based capabilities.

At the same time, current conflicts involving long-range and, in some cases, autonomous attack systems highlight the need to protect our population, our own forces, allied forces and critical infrastructure effectively and efficiently. This is why strengthening ground-based air defence is one of the Air Force’s top priorities. With a mix of an increasing number of highly capable weapon systems in different configurations and integration into NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence, the path forward is clear. Air and space forces thus remain a central pillar of modern deterrence in terms of national and collective defence. Air superiority and access to space are decisive for operational freedom and open up a wide range of political options. The key is to draw the right lessons and not to prepare for the last war or accept conditions dictated by a potential adversary.

How do you see the future of manned and unmanned systems in this context?

The future lies in the cooperation between the two. Manned and unmanned systems are not opposites; they complement each other.

Fifth-generation fighter aircraft such as the F-35 will operate alongside “Collaborative Combat Aircraft” or “loyal wingmen”, which are unmanned accompanying platforms. These can carry additional sensors, weapons or electronic capabilities, extending range, endurance and effectiveness while reducing risks to manned platforms.

Current conflicts also demonstrate the wide proliferation of specialised unmanned systems for certain missions. They are relatively cost-effective, flexible and rapidly adaptable. However, the decisive factor is the overall system: sensors, manned and unmanned platforms, and simple to highly complex weapon systems along with command structures must be networked. This integration is needed to produce the desired operational effect at the speed required by modern air forces.

This year, the German Air Force will receive its first fifth-generation fighters. Given the long development cycles, shouldn’t you already be looking ahead toward the next generation?

We are already looking ahead. However, it’s clear that without fifth-generation capabilities, such as stealth and sensor fusion, it’s already impossible to prevail against a peer adversary equipped with modern air defence systems.

Air combat systems require development timelines of over a decade. With that in mind, introducing the F-35 is a crucial step, as it provides the capabilities we need now, not years from now. At the same time, it is vital that Europe is already advancing the next generation. Sixth-generation systems will not simply be a new fighter aircraft, but a broad ecosystem of unmanned platforms, integrated into a shared data network with interfaces to other domains. The key point is this: air power is increasingly evolving into a system of systems, and that is precisely what our planning reflects.

Digitalisation is part of the DNA of the Air Force. How are command capabilities and system networking evolving?

Modern air and space operations depend heavily on rapidly available, precise data. The ability to detect, assess, decide and act faster provides a decisive advantage.

That’s why we’re committed to investing in system networking. Sensors, aircraft, ground-based air defence and command centres must exchange real-time information on the air and space situation.

This is about more than just technology; it’s also about new command processes. Information superiority must quickly translate into operational superiority. The Air Force already operates modern command and control systems, which we are continuing to develop through digital command posts, new sensors and improved data links.

The goal is the fully networked planning and conduct of operations, including combat operations. Artificial intelligence will play an increasingly important role across all technical and data-processing areas. As a technologically driven service branch, we approach this development with an open mindset, particularly when it comes to the efficient employment of personnel and materiel — for instance, with the support of assistance systems. At the same time, we uphold a strong sense of responsibility, acknowledging the human role in systems with powerful weapons, centred on the concept of “human on the loop.”

Given the threat environment, all aspects of readiness must be reassessed. What is being done?

The security environment has fundamentally changed in recent years, so we are reviewing and strengthening all aspects of readiness.

This starts with training. We are increasingly training our personnel under realistic conditions and through multinational exercises, such as Air Defender. Our civilian personnel are also mission-critical. They are embedded into these scenarios to prepare them for situations that we must be ready to face at our airfields. Infrastructure is another focus. Airfields, command centres and logistics facilities must be resilient and able to function under threat. We are also investing in force protection, including air defence and extensive protective measures for our bases. Our goal is clear: the Air Force must be ready at all times, whether in peace, crisis or war.

Space is becoming an increasingly important domain. What are the Air Force’s current capabilities, and what are its future ambitions?

Beyond its indispensable role in communication, navigation, reconnaissance and early warning, space must be understood as an independent military domain.

With the Bundeswehr Space Command and corresponding capabilities for space surveillance and monitoring, we are already making an important contribution to security in orbit and on Earth. Together with our sister service, CIR, we will significantly expand capabilities in space in the near future. This includes additional personnel, more ground and space-based sensors, satellite constellations in different orbits, including inspection and “guardian” satellites, and military satellite control centres.

In the future, we must also be capable of planning and conducting both defensive and offensive operations in space.

You’re celebrating the 70th anniversary of the German Air Force this year. What’s being planned?

The 70th anniversary of the German Air Force is an extraordinary milestone. We’re proud to reflect on seven decades of service. Since its founding in January 1956, when the first volunteers began service at Nörvenich Air Base, the Air Force has developed into a highly modern component of NATO. Consider, for a moment, how much has happened since then.

Today’s security situation makes one thing clear: protecting freedom and security is a permanent and complex task that demands a high price. This will pose a lasting challenge for the Air Force, both nationally and internationally.

Structures are evolving, modern systems are replacing older ones, and each mission brings new challenges and lessons. Yet there are constants that link our past and future. Take the people who have served and continue to serve in the Air Force, for instance. These highly motivated, exceptionally well-trained men and women, both military and civilian, have defined the Air Force throughout the years with their professionalism, commitment and strong team spirit. This shared identity will continue to guide us through future challenges.

In this 2026 anniversary year, we are celebrating not only 70 years of the German Air Force, but also 60 years of flight training in the United States, 20 years of our force protection forces and five years of the Bundeswehr Space Command.

We have planned a wide range of events at Air Force bases, with international partners and for the public. These include an Air & Space Chiefs’ Conference ahead of ILA in June, a Grand Tattoo in Berlin on 24 September and a military history conference in November. A travelling exhibition celebrating 70 years of the German Air Force has also been created and will be shown nationally and internationally.

Our focus, however, is not only on the past, but above all on the future: with new capabilities, modern technology and a strong team, the Air Force will continue to make a reliable contribution to the security of Germany and its allies, today and tomorrow.

General, thank you very much for these insights!