Germany is considering the purchase of at least 35 additional F-35A fighter jets from the United States, according to a report by the news agency Reuters.
This move would allow Germany to secure an alternative to the next-generation fighter jet program Future Combat Air System (FCAS), from which Berlin and Paris could withdraw due to industrial rivalry.
At the same time, this step would increase Germany’s dependence on U.S. military technology. According to a source cited by Reuters, Germany plans to acquire a further 35 additional fighter jets.
Reports about a possible purchase of additional F-35A Lightning II aircraft by Germany began to surface occasionally last year, but have not been officially confirmed.
In October, the German magazine Der Spiegel reported on documents from the German Ministry of Defence that showed plans to acquire an additional 15 aircraft to be used as nuclear weapons carriers.
According to documents presented to the budget committee of the Bundestag, the cost of this additional purchase was estimated at approximately €2.5 billion.
These additional aircraft are intended to complement the 35 fighter jets already ordered, the first of which is scheduled to enter service with the German Air Force in 2027.
Due to the commercial success of the F-35 program, Germany will not only purchase the aircraft but will also manufacture central fuselage sections and other components at a Rheinmetall facility in the city of Weeze, where operations began in July last year.
Photo: U.S. Air Force. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
