Lockheed Martin has delivered the first F-35A to Germany in Fort Worth, Texas, as Defence Minister Boris Pistorius described the handover as the start of a new era for the Luftwaffe. The aircraft is the first of 35 F-35As Germany ordered in 2022 to replace its ageing Tornado fleet and preserve NATO nuclear-sharing capabilities.
The initial deliveries will support the type’s introduction into German service while the first eight jets remain in the United States for training. Later aircraft are due to follow through 2029. Germany plans to base the F-35A at Büchel in Rhineland-Palatinate, where infrastructure work is already under way to prepare for the fleet’s arrival.
The F-35A gives Germany access to a stealth fighter designed around sensor fusion, networking and reduced radar visibility, extending the Luftwaffe’s capabilities in both conventional operations and NATO deterrence roles. The programme also represents a shift away from the Tornado, which has long carried Germany’s nuclear-sharing mission.