- Germany unveils its first F-35A fighter, with plans to field 35 aircraft to replace the Tornado.
- Stealth capability and powerful sensor technology will enhance the Luftwaffe's combat ability.
- Germany signed an $8.8 billion deal in 2022, reversing an earlier plan to buy the F-18.
- The German air and space force will join the international F-35 community, reshaping how it fights.
Germany has rolled out its first F-35A Lightning II and is preparing to field 35 of the fifth-generation fighters to replace its aging Tornados in the nuclear weapons role. Lockheed Martin unveiled the jet to the German government on September 18 at a ceremony at its production facility in Fort Worth, Texas. According to the company's press release, the first aircraft is scheduled for delivery this year, with full operational capability targeted for 2029.
Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas will receive the first eight German jets this autumn for pilot training. Lockheed Martin plans to send the first F-35s to Germany by the end of 2027.
Technical advantages of the F-35A
"This marks the beginning of a new era for the Luftwaffe: the new F-35A is the most advanced combat aircraft in the world," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in the press release. "It is distinguished by its stealth capability, tight integration with other platforms and extremely powerful sensors. The F-35A can gather large volumes of data and rapidly fuse them into a comprehensive operational picture." Germany plans to buy 35 F-35As under an $8.8 billion agreement signed in 2022, in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, according to Breaking Defense.
Background to Germany's purchase decision
The deal followed U.S. approval in 2022 of a potential sale of the F-35 to Germany. According to Defense News in July 2022, the State Department cleared the potential sale of up to 35 F-35As and related munitions and equipment at an estimated cost of $8.4 billion. The F-35 purchase overturned Germany's earlier plan to acquire Boeing-built F-18s. Those jets are expected to take over the nuclear mission from the Luftwaffe's aging PA-200 Tornado fleet before 2030, according to Defense News.
The Tornado unit assigned to the nuclear mission is the 33rd Fighter Squadron of Tactical Air Force Wing 33 at Büchel, Germany.
"With the arrival of the F-35, the German air and space force will receive a modern, mature and highly capable fifth-generation fighter," Lieutenant General Holger Neumann, commander of the German air and space force, said in the Lockheed Martin press release. "This will not only bring major change to our air and space force, but will also affect the way we think, command and fight. The F-35 will make us part of a larger international F-35 community."
Lockheed Martin said 20 countries have now selected the F-35, including 13 European nations. More than 1,355 F-35s are in operation worldwide, with the fleet having logged over 1 million flight hours across 42 bases. German industry has been part of the F-35 program since 2001, and Lockheed Martin said it is exploring further opportunities for German companies in manufacturing, sustainment, training and research and development. Following the rollout of Germany's first aircraft, the next eight F-35As are expected to head to Arkansas this autumn for pilot training, with the first jets due in Germany by the end of 2027 and full operational capability planned for 2029.
Impact of the F-35A on the Luftwaffe
Germany's introduction of the F-35A marks a major step in its military modernization, particularly as the country places greater weight on defense in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The F-35A's stealth capability and advanced sensors will significantly boost the Luftwaffe's combat effectiveness within the NATO framework and enable closer cooperation with allied forces. The decision also reflects Germany's new role in global military partnerships, tying it more closely to the other nations that have chosen the F-35.