Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has called a crisis meeting with high-ranking generals, citing concerns over the reliability and readiness of US weapons systems. Recent reports have raised questions about the potential for the US to remotely shut down its F-35 fighter jets, which Berlin plans to purchase for around ten billion euros.
The meeting, which is expected to involve generals, defense ministry specialists and procurement officials, will focus on the reliability of the F-35 jets, as well as exploring the possibility of the US limiting the use of its weapons systems. The EU Commission has recently advocated for European defense companies to be prioritized in the procurement of weapons financed by EU credit.
According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, the expert meeting will not only address security issues related to future weapons systems like the F-35, but also examine the US systems currently in use by the German military. The meeting is expected to be held in a confidential setting.
A defense ministry spokesperson has denied the claims, stating that the F-35 cannot be shut down remotely and that all details regarding the operation, maintenance and data connection of the system are classified.
Professor Masala of the Bundeswehr University in Munich has expressed concerns over the new US administration’s approach, stating that President Trump has “switched sides” and adopted a pro-Russian narrative. He believes that the US is no longer a reliable partner and that the F-35’s functionality would be severely impaired without the necessary data transfer and spare parts.
Some politicians have called for a greater focus on European defense procurement, with SPD’s Andreas Schwarz advocating for the prioritization of German or European defense companies, even if it means not achieving the full capabilities of US systems. CSU’s Reinhard Brandl has also called for more contracts to be awarded to European defense companies, stating that Germany must become more self-sufficient in the defense sector.
Green Party co-leader Franziska Brantner has called for a more European approach to defense, stating that Germany should not only buy American-made weapons, but also invest in new technologies and create new European consortia, similar to the approach taken by Airbus.
Christoph Heusgen, former head of the Munich Security Conference, has called for a strong European leadership, with Germany, France, the UK and Poland taking the lead. He believes that a strong European defense is essential and that the population must be convinced of the need for a stronger European defense.