Germany's Air Force Not Ready To Participate In The Coalition Against The Islamic State

Journalists stand in front of a Tornado aircraft of the Tactical Air Force Wing 51 'Immelmann' during a presentation at German army Bundeswehr airbase in Jagel near the German-Danish border, December 4, 2015. © REUTERS/ FABIAN BIMMER

Sputnik: Ready for Anti-Daesh Fight? Germany's Air Force is Collapsing

Germany might be eager to take part in the anti-Daesh efforts but some of its military capabilities are quite limited.

"Germany's Air Force is in bad shape. For years, its fighter planes have fallen into disrepair due to lack of spare parts, with the number of its flyable, operational warplanes now at one of its lowest points," Robert Beckhusen wrote for the War is Boring website.

Berlin among other things plans to send six Panavia Tornado multirole fighters to conduct reconnaissance flights in Syria, which does not say much without a context.

Germany has a total of 93 Tornadoes, 66 of which are available for deployment but only 29 are actually combat ready, Der Spiegel detailed, citing a recent report of Germany's Defense Ministry. Earlier this week, Germany's defense chief Ursula von der Leyen told ARD that 30 Tornado aircraft were fully operational but differing numbers do not really change the fact that the situation is getting worse.

WNU Editor: The German Air Force is saying that they are ready for deployment .... albeit at half strength .... Less than half of German air force fleet ready for deployment (DW).