Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Mattes Kries | 10 Percent True | EP81 – Part 2

Former Luftwaffe Tornado IDS pilot and weapons school instructor Mattes Kries returns to break down how a Cold War–era strike aircraft was pushed far beyond its original design. From low-level nuclear strike doctrine to medium-altitude workarounds, “dumb” HARM employment, Red Flag and Nellis weapons school, and the arrival of TAURUS, this episode explores how crews compensated for limited kit with tactics, maths, and judgement. It’s a rare, insider look at German Tornado operations, weapons school culture, and the real cost of keeping legacy jets relevant.

0:00 intro teaser
1:35 welcome back Mattes
2:55 recognition of the “different breed”
6:30 The state of tactics in the prevailing atmosphere and “fooling” the weapons computer (the value of a good weatherman)
18:25 shortcomings distilled
19:31 targeting and low to medium altitude…..
24:15 and then with GPS
27:27 reversion mode targeting feasibility
29:28 a sense among crews that Luftwaffe is lagging behind peers?
34:16 why?
37:50 squadron re-roll
43:30 flying rates?
47:15 competency levels as a result?
53:30 losses
57:42 weapons school
1:08:45 how to counter a 4-ship of Eagles
1:10:40 electronic attack systems
1:13:10 BFM phase
1:19:00 bomb in face and other survival tactics
1:21:12 HARM
1:26:08 upgrades incl datalink and Marineflieger cross pollination
1:31:50 intelligence, access to information on other platforms?
1:39:18 instructing at the weapons school and lessons in leadership
1:47:20 TAURUS
1:53:00 opinions on Ukraine - SCALP assessment?
1:58:33 low level
2:07:05 Thank you Mattes!