The State Council approved the sale of 400 AIM-120D-3 missiles to Germany, with a total price of $1.23 billion including supporting equipment. Now, Germany's F-35 fleet has been equipped with "sharp blades." Someone saw through it immediately: "This isn't just selling weapons; it's clearly binding Germany and NATO deeper into America's war chariot."

This U.S. State Department arms sale to Germany quickly became a hot topic in the international military fan circle. On September 25, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency officially announced that it had approved Germany to purchase up to 400 AIM-120D-3 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles, plus 12 precision guidance sections, an integrated test platform, telemetry equipment, and training kits, totaling $1.23 billion. This is not a small order, but a key step in addressing the modernization pain points of the German Air Force. In recent years, the German Air Force has been catching up, especially with the introduction of the F-35A fighter jets, which inherently carry nuclear deterrence tasks. Now, with these missiles, the fleet has been equipped with a long-range killing weapon. The AIM-120D-3 is no ordinary commodity; it is one of the most advanced variants of the U.S. military's air-to-air missiles, with a range of about 160 kilometers and a speed of 4 Mach. It features GPS-enhanced inertial navigation and a two-way data link, making it highly resistant to electronic interference, so once locked on, it is almost impossible to escape. Compared to earlier models, this D-3 variant has upgraded 15 circuit boards, optimized hardware with a modular systems engineering approach, and improved accuracy and reliability. With these missiles, the German Air Force can directly enhance its air interception capability in the East European direction. The stealthy design of the F-35 combined with the firepower of these missiles gives them more confidence when patrolling the Baltic Sea.

Speaking of Germany's F-35 procurement, this matter began after the Ukraine-Russia conflict in 2022. Germany then declared a "turning point," and after the appointment of Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, the budget was doubled, and he pledged to raise defense spending to 2% of GDP. The F-35A was the main focus, with Germany initially ordering 35 aircraft, mainly deployed at Büchel Air Base, to shoulder the nuclear sharing mission—under the U.S.-Germany cooperation, the B61 nuclear bombs provided by the U.S. are delivered by German aircraft. These planes will be delivered from 2026 onwards, but the accompanying ammunition must not lag behind, so this missile order comes timely. On October 20, there were reports that Germany would increase its commitment, planning to buy an additional 15 F-35A aircraft, bringing the total to 50. This is not just a simple number stacking; it also requires matching the ammunition inventory. The AIM-120D-3 perfectly fits the F-35's fire control system, with the missile's active radar seeker seamlessly connecting to the plane's sensor fusion, allowing pilots in the cockpit to update target data in real time. Raytheon, as the main contractor, secured this order, with the production line at the Tucson factory working overtime, and the first batch of missiles expected to arrive in Germany by mid-2025. The entire transaction went through the foreign military sales channel, with a 90-day review period in Congress, but as a NATO ally, it is basically certain to pass.

On the surface, this deal seems to be a win-win for the U.S. and Germany, with the U.S. helping allies strengthen their defenses and the German Air Force's combat capabilities rising significantly. But digging deeper, we have to talk about that sarcastic comment: "Binding Germany to America's war chariot." NATO has been under great pressure on its eastern flank, and the Ukraine-Russia war has kept the European aerial threat hanging every day. As the leader of the alliance, Germany's air force is aging severely. Although the Typhoon and Tornado aircraft are reliable, their range and electronic warfare capabilities are not keeping up with the pace. Buying American missiles can temporarily satisfy the need, and with the F-35 formation equipped, they can shoot down enemy aircraft over 180 kilometers away, greatly increasing their deterrent power. The State Department's announcement explicitly stated that this helps Germany cope with current and future aerial threats and supports the overall NATO defense architecture. However, the reality is that Europe's path toward defense autonomy is narrowing. The EU has been talking about developing its own missile projects, such as MBDA's Meteor missile, which has a range of over 100 kilometers, and is more locally adaptable. But Germany's choice to go directly for the AIM-120D-3 means placing its bet on the American supply chain. Subsequent maintenance, training, and upgrades will all rely on Raytheon and Lockheed Martin's technical support, with costs amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. Although the European Defense Fund has money, it is spread across too many projects, and even the funding for Germany's domestic IRIS-T short-range missile development is tight. By tying itself up, European autonomy becomes a distant dream.

By the first half of 2025, U.S. arms exports to NATO allies had already broken records, with F-35 orders exceeding 1,000 globally, and the AMRAAM series sold over 4,000 units. After Germany finalized this deal, Norway and Poland also reported similar purchases, turning the European arms market into a U.S. backyard. The benefits are obvious: the U.S. defense industry is reaping huge profits, Raytheon's stock price rises, Arizona factory employment is stable, and it also indirectly boosts allied defense spending—Germany's defense budget is expected to reach 80 billion euros next year, and the overall European defense spending is projected to exceed 400 billion. NATO Secretary General also welcomes this, saying it enhances the alliance's interoperability, with the F-35's Link-16 data link allowing missile information sharing, doubling efficiency during joint patrols. But what about the drawbacks? European strategic autonomy becomes an empty promise. A Brussels think tank report directly points out that the EU's dependence on U.S. arms sales is as high as 60%, from airplanes to missiles, with the whole chain being controlled. After the Ukraine-Russia conflict, the U.S. provides aid to Ukraine while harvesting European orders, reviving Trump-era "Buy American" policies. Although Pistorius is pragmatic, pushing for procurement always emphasizes "NATO priority," but there are voices within the Green Party and Social Democratic Party in Germany questioning whether this will make Europe a vassal. The EU Defense Commissioner recently debated in parliament, saying they want to build a European missile alliance, but with high financial and technical barriers, it is difficult to counter the U.S. system in the short term.

In summary, this $1.23 billion missile deal gives the German Air Force a short-term boost, adding multiple layers of security to the NATO eastern wing. But in the long run, Europe needs to calculate whether it's worth it. Relying on the U.S. is not just about money, but also the lifeline of strategic autonomy. Pistorius continues to lead the defense, and on October 30, a leaked procurement list of 377 billion euros was revealed, with 320 projects, where arms sales take up a large portion, but also includes local orders, such as Rheinmetall's artillery line. Germany wants to balance both sides, using American firepower to meet immediate needs, while pursuing European projects for long-term goals.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1847920532738313/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author.