DefenseGermany to Order 15 Additional F-35s, Reports Say
Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius intends to order an additional 15 Lockheed Martin F-35 fighters from the United States, according to confidential documents prepared for the Bundestag’s budget committee, said the Der Spiegel.
The purchase, valued at approximately €2.5 billion, comes as Berlin seeks to meet updated NATO requirements in light of increased security concerns regarding Russia. The new order would bring the total German F-35 fleet to 50 aircraft.
The Bundeswehr has already contracted for 35 F-35s, with initial deliveries scheduled for 2027. These aircraft are set to replace the Luftwaffe’s aging Tornado fleet, a key step in maintaining Germany’s commitments to NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangements.
Recent defense budgets had constrained new procurement, making the scale of this potential order noteworthy. The adaptation costs for Büchel Air Base, the main operating location for the F-35s and site of US nuclear weapons, have also risen sharply from €700 million to €2 billion.
In parallel, Germany has ordered 20 new Eurofighter aircraft, but the expanded F-35 acquisition may raise questions about Berlin’s commitment to the Franco-German Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program.
The FCAS effort has faced delays due to disagreements between Dassault and Airbus over project leadership.
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