Lockheed Martin has presented Germany’s first F-35A Lightning II to the German government at its Fort Worth, Texas, production facility, opening the next stage of the country’s stealth fighter programme. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius attended the ceremony, where the aircraft was identified as 35+01/MG-01. Germany has ordered 35 F-35As, with the first eight remaining in the United States for pilot and technician training before later aircraft are delivered for operational use.
The handover comes as Berlin prepares to replace part of its Tornado fleet and preserve its role in NATO nuclear sharing. Pistorius described the fighter as the beginning of a new era for the German Air Force and confirmed that the aircraft can carry U.S.-owned nuclear weapons. Reporting indicates the first German jets are due for delivery this year, with aircraft intended for Büchel Air Base from 2027 and completion of the full fleet by 2029. The first airframe had already flown earlier in the month before the ceremonial presentation in Texas.