Many commentators over-simplified the debate surrounding Germany's search for a replacement for its 89 ageing Tornado fighter-bombers, due to be retired from 2025. Germany's choice was long characterised as being between an F-35 that was superior on 'military' grounds and a Eurofighter that represented the better political/industrial/economic choice. But in fact each of these aircraft offers both advantages and disadvantages in all of these categories, while the January 31 announcement starkly revealed that there were, notionally at least, a range of other choices, including extending the Tornado's service, or procuring other aircraft types, including Boeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet or F-15 Strike Eagle.
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