Former German combat pilots apparently work as trainers in China

According to research by ZDF and “Spiegel,” former German military personnel are training combat pilots in China, apparently including practicing attack scenarios

Former German combat pilots apparently work as trainers in China

According to research by ZDF and “Spiegel,” former German military personnel are training combat pilots in China, apparently including practicing attack scenarios. Defense Minister Pistorius announced an investigation.

Are former German soldiers training combat pilots in China? Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has responded to corresponding investigations by ZDF and “Spiegel.” The SPD politician announced that every single case would be reviewed. “We will do this consistently, and all violations will be punished,

Pistorius promised.

Soldiers may, after their time with the Bundeswehr, also take on other tasks, but this must happen within the framework of the law. “There are clear rules in the Soldier Act about what a soldier, what a female soldier may do after the end of their service, what he or she must indicate and what not,” explained the minister. “There are also clear rules on confidentiality obligations and much more.

A handful of former soldiers apparently train in China

For years, former German combat pilots, according to the research, have been training military aircraft in China. It is apparent that at least a handful of former German Air Force officers are employed in China as trainers. Two of the Germans are said to have trained “Eurofighter” pilots before retiring, and another man was previously a “Tornado” fighter pilot.

At least one of these men reportedly lived and worked in Qiqhar, a city in northeastern China where an important airbase of the Chinese Air Force is located. There they are said to have stationed “Jian-11” fighter jets, according to ZDF.

Yearly salaries in the hundreds of thousands of euros

Ordinarily, combat pilots of the Bundeswehr retire at the age of 41 – then their instincts slowly weaken, and vision deteriorates. Many former pilots then seek part-time work after their service.

The former Bundeswehr soldiers who allegedly train in China received their payment over “several letterbox companies in the Seychelles,” according to the reports. This was revealed in the “PanamaPapers” leaked data from a law firm, reports ZDF.

It is apparently through these consulting firms in the tax haven that the extremely generous salaries were paid. The “Spiegel” reports that one of the men is said to have received a yearly salary in the hundreds of thousands of euros. They are salaries “that are otherwise only paid in professional sports or in leadership positions in corporations.

A soldier checks a fighter jet at an airport in Qiqihar, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province. (Archive image: July 25, 2009)

Were attack scenarios practiced?

The research is particularly explosive because it suggests that some of the former Bundeswehr soldiers may have worked for the company of an unmasked Chinese spy. According to “Spiegel,” German security agencies believe that ex-soldiers revealed military expertise and practiced attack scenarios, such as an attack on Taiwan.

According to reports from both media outlets, several pilots left requests unanswered or were not reachable. One pilot denied the allegations.

The Defense Ministry confirmed to both media outlets that joint investigations with intelligence services and international partners had been going on for some time.