The Social Democrats voiced strong opposition to the plane when in opposition but international commitments and the need to secure German jobs in the aerospace sector may lead to a change of heart. But the key problem for any defence review will be to decide just what the German military is for. Britain and France are rebuilding their armed forces with the emphasis upon mobility, peace-keeping and intervention beyond their own borders. While Germany is now a significant player in Bosnia, such involvements, for historical reasons, are highly sensitive. So too is the issue of conscription - which Germany has so far retained, while most other western European countries are abandoning it.
History is once again the problem.
Germany has bad memories of a professional military machine. And the new Government may find it hard to abolish conscription even if it wanted to. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.