Germany is to order 90 Typhoons, 30 F/A-18 Super Hornets and 15 EA-18G Growlers to replace its aging fleet of Tornado aircraft.

German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer officially informed the U.S. government of the decision on April 16, 2020, according to Der Spiegel. The mixed order will satisfy those demanding European industrial involvement.

“While we continue to await an official announcement, we remain committed to working in support of both the German and U.S. governments on this important procurement,” a spokesman for Boeing wrote in an email quoted in Time here.

“A combination of Hornets and Growlers is ideally suited to meet Germany’s strike fighter and electronic warfare aircraft requirements.”

The Super Hornet will fill a NATO requirement for Germany to field aircraft capable of dropping the B61 nuclear bomb, according to German publication Handelsblatt.

Competing against the F/A-18 was the F-35 and the Typhoon. The F-35, however, was knocked out of the race earlier in the year seemingly after pressure from Airbus.

Dirk Hoke, then Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Defence and Space, had warned the German government against the purchase of the F-35.

“As soon as Germany becomes an F-35 member nation, cooperation on all combat aircraft issues with France will die,” Hoke said in an interview with Welt Am Sonntag which can be found here.

Eurofighter CEO Volker Paltzo had earlier said:

“I am confident that Eurofighter Typhoon can provide a cost effective and attractive solution for Germany, which will deliver every capability and perform every mission the German Air Force needs.

Eurofighter Typhoon is the logical choice for Germany: As well as providing all the capabilities the German Air Force needs, it also guarantees German sovereignty across many aspects, such as mission and maintenance data (there are no black boxes on Typhoon).

It is also the least risk solution: Germany knows, uses and understands our aircraft.”