800 million euros more expensive: Conversion for new nuclear jets causes cost explosion

Germany is participating in NATO's nuclear deterrent program. The German government is purchasing new US fighter jets. They are intended to transport US nuclear bombs stored in the Eifel region in an emergency. However, the reconstruction of the airfield is now costing more than expected.

The conversion of the Büchel military airport in the Eifel region to accommodate the US stealth jets ordered by the Bundeswehr for nuclear deterrence will cost approximately €800 million more than planned. Upon inquiry, the Ministry of Defense confirmed that the original estimated cost of €1.2 billion is expected to increase by this amount, to approximately €2 billion. ARD had previously reported on this.

"The underlying calculation includes all currently foreseeable expenditure items and cost factors, including risk premiums, but due to the specific challenges of the project, it cannot represent a final, fixed price," a ministry spokeswoman said. Further price increases, for example due to additional personnel to meet the "extremely ambitious timelines," cannot be ruled out. "The total costs will be determined after the project's completion in 2027."

The German government has ordered 35 F-35 fighter jets from the United States. The aircraft are to be purchased primarily for Germany's participation in NATO's nuclear deterrent. In an emergency, they are intended to deploy the US nuclear bombs stored in Büchel.

As early as the end of June, the ministry admitted that costs would increase by a three-digit million euro amount. A contract with the general contractor for the new framework is scheduled to be signed in August. The cost explosion is attributed to the stringent safety requirements combined with the intense time pressure.

At the start of the project, it was impossible to estimate what additional costs the "enormous security requirements that the US had also imposed during the process" would cause, the ministry spokeswoman explained. "Delaying the project to avoid higher expenditures, however, was and is not an option, because the timeline for the deployment of the F-35 from 2027 onwards cannot be postponed." Furthermore, she stated that even a twice-long implementation period "under normal procedures" would increase costs.