Lockheed Martin has formally presented Germany’s first F-35A Lightning II to the German government at its Fort Worth production facility in Texas, marking the first physical handover of an aircraft from Berlin’s 35-jet order. The ceremony took place on 18 September and involved senior German and US officials, with the aircraft expected to remain in the United States initially for training.
The jet is understood to carry the German designation 35+01. The first eight German F-35As will stay at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas for crew training before the start of in-country operations. Germany plans to field the aircraft as part of its effort to replace the Tornado fleet and expand NATO-compatible strike and support capability.
German deliveries are expected to begin in late 2027, with full operational capability targeted for 2029. The presentation confirms progress in Lockheed Martin’s export pipeline for the fifth-generation fighter and extends the programme’s role within the wider NATO training and interoperability network.