The
German Air Force (
German:
Luftwaffe , the German-language generic term for
air force) is the
aerial warfare branch of the
Bundeswehr, the armed forces of
Germany. With a strength of 28,508 personnel (30 November 2015), it is the fourth largest air force within the
European Union, after the air forces of the United Kingdom, France and Italy. Although its budget has been significantly reduced since the end of the
Cold War in 1989/90, the Luftwaffe is still among the best-equipped air forces of the world, although it currently suffers from high levels of aircraft unserviceability.