The Quest for Relevant Air Power

164 │ GERMAN Air Force
Air Force Structure 6 originally envisioned reducing the number
of ADs from four to three and disbanding the German Air
Transport Command, with the EATC assuming its responsibilities.
71 With the adoption of Air Force Structure 6, the GAF was
planned to have seven flying units at its disposal. 72 The Eurofighter
was to equip four operational units and a training unit, replacing
the F4-F Phantom fleet as well as a large part of the Tornado fleet. 73
Only two Tornado units were planned to stay operational. 74 Once
equipped with the Eurofighter, the multirole-capable 31st Fighter-
Bomber Wing (FBW) and the 73d FBW, a training unit, were to be
capable of contributing to national air policing alongside FWs 71
and 74. 75 Despite this move towards a more flexible employment
of air power, the GAF seemed to continue emphasising specialized
wings. Yet against the backdrop of an unbenign economic
climate as of mid-2010, “Tranche 3B” of the Eurofighter, comprising
37 aircraft, was not likely to be acquired, which would result in
one Eurofighter wing less. 76 On the positive side, all of the remaining
frontline wings were planned to be used more flexibly in both
the air-to-air and air-to-ground roles. 77
Moreover, after the removal of Hawk and Roland units, three
SAM wings equipped with 24 Patriot systems form a SAM nucleus
in the context of Air Force Structure 6. 78 Despite the partial reversal
of the 2003 reform, White Paper 2006 affirms the foundations
of Air Force Structure 6. 79
Table 3. Flying wings within Air Force Structure 6 (GAF)
Unit 2006 Future
51st RW Tornado Tornado
32d FBW Tornado ECR, SEAD Tornado ECR, SEAD
33d FBW Tornado (LGB, Taurus) Eurofighter (LGB, Taurus)
31st FBW Tornado (LGB) Eurofighter (LGB, Taurus)
71st FW F-4F Phantom Eurofighter
74th FW F-4F Phantom Eurofighter
73d FW F-4F Phantom Eurofighter (training unit)
Source: Lt Col (GS) Nicolas Radke, GAF, MOD, Bonn, Germany, to the author, e-mail, 28 November
2006.
To comply with the political goal of enhancing military power
projection capacities, the GAF is amongst others acquiring new
capabilities such as AAR, strategic air mobility, and a deployable