TSAMTO, October 22. The German Defense Ministry plans to additionally order 15 F-35A Lightning-2 multipurpose fighters from the American company Lockheed Martin, a source in the German parliament told Reuters.
This report confirms information previously published in Spiegel magazine, according to which the Ministry has prepared for the budget committee of the Bundestag a package of documents for the purchase of an additional batch of F-35A, which will increase the total fleet of aircraft of this type to 50 units.
According to anonymous Spiegel sources, Defense Ministry experts estimate the cost of additional fighters at 2.5 billion. euro ($2.9 billion).
The German Air Force plans to increase its fleet of combat aircraft, taking into account the need to meet new NATO requirements in the field of defense and deterrence. Earlier, the German Defense Ministry had already ordered 35 F-35 fighter jets to replace the outdated Tornado. It is assumed that the F-35 will participate in NATO operations on the joint use of nuclear weapons.
In July, official Berlin denied plans to increase the order for the F-35, but the significantly increased defense budget provided greater flexibility in spending funds. Recently, the German Defense Ministry also ordered 20 additional Typhoon fighters.
The F-35 fighter jets will be based at the Buchel Airbase, where American nuclear weapons are housed in secure storage facilities. Given the increase in the fleet to 50 aircraft of the German Air Force, a second base may be required for their use.
The additional purchase of the F-35 may also increase tensions with France due to uncertainty about the Franco-German project to develop a promising FCAS (Future Combat Air System) fighter. Disagreements between Dassault Aviation and Airbus have paralyzed the process of creating an aircraft demonstrator. German officials blame Dassault Aviation for the current situation, citing the fact that the French company insists on playing a leading role, despite the initial agreement on the distribution of developments in a 50:50 ratio. Eric Trappier, CEO of the French company, recently stated that, if necessary, Dassault will be able to develop a sixth-generation aircraft on its own.
At the same time, the purchase of the F-35 may be positively received in Washington. Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that European defense investments should benefit American manufacturers.
As CAMTO reported, in July 2022, the US State Department approved the potential supply of 35 F-35A fighter jets in a conventional takeoff and landing version, as well as ammunition and related equipment to Germany under the Foreign Military Sales program. As stated, the total cost of the order may amount to $ 8.4 billion.
A letter of offer and Acceptance (LOA) for the purchase of 35 F-35A aircraft was signed in December 2022. The assembly of the first fighter began in December 2024. The first deliveries are scheduled for the end of 2026.
According to the plans, the training of personnel will initially take place at the Ebbing Air Base (Arkansas) in the United States. By 2027, the aircraft will be deployed at the Buchel air Base in Germany.
