"This development marks the beginning of a new era for the German Air Force" German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said at the event held at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth production facility.
"The F-35A, as the world's most advanced fighter aircraft, stands out with its low radar cross-section, advanced sensor networks, and high data integration capabilities."
Pistorius stated that the initial aircraft will be delivered within this year, with full operational capability (FOC) targeted for 2029.
35 aircraft procurement
Under its official procurement program, Germany is set to acquire a total of 35 F-35A jets. The first eight aircraft will be transferred this autumn to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas to support the training of German pilots. The aircraft are scheduled to arrive on German soil in late 2027.
Capable of performing nuclear sharing missions, the integration of the stealth fighters is seen as a critical element of Germany’s strategy to modernize its air-based deterrence against evolving threats in Eastern Europe.
NATO and industrial alliance
Lieutenant General Holger Neumann, Chief of the German Air Force, emphasized that the F-35 integration represents more than a platform acquisition, bringing a fundamental transformation at both the doctrine and command-and-control levels.
The F-35 program currently encompasses 20 participating nations, including 13 European countries. German defense contractors have participated in the global F-35 supply chain through component manufacturing and R&D activities since 2001. Lockheed Martin reported that new industrial partnerships are underway to expand local manufacturing and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities in Germany.
With a global operational fleet exceeding 1,355 aircraft and over 1 million flight hours completed, the F-35 platform continues to reinforce NATO’s common operational standards and cross-platform data-sharing interoperability.