A mock-up of an F-35A in Luftwaffe markings at the ILA Airshow in June. With the RAAF also operating the type, the two services could co-operate on training as part of a wider declaration of intent signed on 10 August. (Janes/Gareth jennings)
Germany is to train its military pilots in Australia, with a declaration of intent (DoI) signed between the respective air force chiefs on 10 August.
The head of the Luftwaffe, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, and his counterpart with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Air Marshal Stephen Chappell, signed the DoI that will see the first German pilots arrive in Australia in 2025.
As noted in Janes World Air Forces , the Luftwaffe aims to meet NATO standards that each pilot have 180 flight hours per year (40 can be on simulators). However, low aircraft availability has negatively affected training. As such, the service has been making greater use of synthetic training, and has also sent military pilots to the Italian Air Force International Flight Training School (IFTS) at Decimomannu Air Base on Sardinia for its Phase IV (also known as lead-in fighter) training.
In also sending pilots to Australia, the Luftwaffe trainees will likely receive advanced flying training at No 2 Flying Training School at RAAF Pearce in Western Australia. Lead-in fighter and tactics training are provided through the Introductory Fighter Course (IFC) via simulators and later on the BAE Systems Hawk Mk 127 at RAAF Pearce and RAAF Williamtown in New South Wales.
For more information on the Luftwaffe's training requirements, please see Germany – Air Force .
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