Neu Westfalen Air Force

The Neu Westfalen Air Force (German: Neu Westfalen Luftwaffe) is the aerial warfare branch of the Neu Westfalen Bundeswehr. With a strength of 10,200 men (2013), it is the third largest air force in Oceania, after the air forces of Australia and New Duveland. Although its budget has been reduced since the end of Indonesia's Suharto regime in 1998, the Neu Westfalen Luftwaffe is still among the best-equipped small air forces in the world.

Early Years
When Neu Westfalen gained independence 1925 it set about transforming it's small volunteer corps into a fully-fledged defence force. Along with a newly formed Army and Navy, an Air Force was also created by incorporating leftover military equipment from Germany. Initially few resources were given to the air force, as Neu Westfalen's geographic isolation made it a strategically-impractical target for hostile biplane fighter aircraft. However with the rapid appearance of carrier-borne monoplane fighter aircraft in the 1930's it soon became apparent Neu Westfalen would require more than a token airforce filled with mostly obsolete aircraft.

World War II Era
During the late 1930's Neu Westfalen began purchasing modern aircraft from Nazi Germany, such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter plane and the Heinkel He 111 medium bomber/transport. The Neu Westfalen Luftwaffe began training with their German counterparts in 1932, with 17 pilots serving (unofficially) during the Spanish Civil War. Shortly after the start of World War II Hitler cancelled any further military shipments to Neu Westfalen, as Germany needed to conserve such resources for it's war effort.

During the war 138 Neu Westphalian pilots would reject their country's neutrality and join the German Luftwaffe to fight the allies. Fearing the Japanese would eventually invade Neu Westfalen, 55 pilots also broke-ranks by joining the US Navy to fight in the Pacific theater. When it became apparent Germany's defeat was inevitable, tens of thousands of German refugees and high-ranking officials began asking for sanctuary in Neu Westfalen. In early 1945 the government ordered the Luftwaffe to begin evacuating as many German civilians as possible via Spain, Spanish Sahara, Argentina and Uruguay to Neu Westfalen. Some Nazi party officials also managed to sneak on-board these flights, despite attempts to filter them out.

The Neu Westfalen Luftwaffe continued flying out German refugees after the war; primarily those from Soviet-occupied areas. These flights stopped in 1947 when the Soviet Union moved to prevent people escaping the Iron Curtain.

Cold War Era
During the Cold War the Luftwaffe primarily looked to the United States for its aircraft, but also maintained a close relationship with both West & East Germany. The decades following WWII would also become a quiet time for the Luftwaffe, with few deployments taking place until 1989; during the defense of the Spira Islands.

Modern Era
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Neu Westfalen re approached Russia and established good relations. This would eventually lead to joint-training exercises between the Luftwaffe and the Russian Air Force. Today the Luftwaffe continues to support disaster relief and search & rescue operations world-wide.

In 2013 the Luftwaffe announced it is considering purchasing 26 Sukhoi T-50 fighter jets from Russia; to eventually replace it's fleet of F-14's. Other possible replacement candidates include the Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle, Sukhoi Su-35S and the Mikoyan MiG-35. The government has stated it may also choose to operate a duel-fighter force, instead of it's current single-fighter based force. However this would not occur if the F-15SE were to be chosen, as it would require integrating both American & Russian aircraft; which would cause significant technical and operational challenges.

Personnel
As of 2013, the Luftwaffe has 10,200 permanent full-time personnel and 1,600 part-time reserve personnel.

Air bases
The Luftwaffe currently maintains four air bases, three of which are located on the mainland and one on the Spira Islands. Each base is responsible for their own stragetic and civil defence area; Mt Lantea Airbase (North Westphalia), Evehalden Airbase (Central Westphalia), Lake Zollikon Airbase (South Westphalia) & Spira Military Base (Spira Overseas Territory).

Aircraft inventory
In total the Luftwaffe currently operates 98 aircraft of various classes. The majority of these aircraft are American in origin.