BERLIN : The German government is evaluating the possible procurement of more than 35 additional F-35 Lightning II fighter jets from U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin, a move that could significantly expand the Luftwaffe’s future combat aircraft inventory. If approved, the additional purchase would build on Germany’s 2022 order of 35 aircraft and potentially increase the total fleet to approximately 85 F-35 jets.
Germany’s initial F-35 order was approved in 2022 as part of a broader modernization effort aimed at replacing the aging Tornado fleet. The first deliveries under that contract are scheduled to begin later this year. Government spokespersons have stated that no final political decision has been made regarding an expanded purchase, describing the matter as part of ongoing defense evaluations. Lockheed Martin has similarly indicated that its current focus remains on fulfilling the original 35-aircraft contract.
The reassessment of Germany’s future fighter structure comes as the Franco-German Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program faces continued development challenges. Launched in 2017 as a €100 billion joint European initiative to deliver a sixth-generation combat aircraft and associated drone systems by 2040, FCAS has encountered sustained industrial disagreements. The core dispute involves workshare allocation, intellectual property rights, and platform specifications between Dassault Aviation and Airbus, which represents German and Spanish interests in the program. These issues have slowed progress on the manned fighter component and raised uncertainty over timelines.
Defense analysts view the potential expansion of the F-35 fleet as a contingency measure designed to maintain operational continuity. Increasing the number of fifth-generation aircraft would ensure sustained air combat capability while Berlin evaluates its long-term role in any future sixth-generation platform.
The potential procurement also carries industrial implications. Rheinmetall, through Rheinmetall Aviation Services, is establishing a manufacturing facility in Weeze, Germany, to produce F-35 center fuselage sections in cooperation with Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. The facility is scheduled to begin production in July 2025 and is expected to create more than 400 skilled jobs. It will have the capacity to manufacture up to 36 fuselage sections annually, integrating German industry into the global F-35 supply chain.
An expanded procurement could provide Berlin with leverage to negotiate additional industrial offsets. Greater participation in F-35 production and sustainment activities would enable German aerospace firms to expand manufacturing capabilities, acquire advanced production expertise, and secure long-term industrial engagement. Such measures are seen as a way to mitigate potential industrial impacts should the FCAS manned fighter component fail to progress as originally planned.
While no formal decision has been announced, the evaluation reflects Germany’s effort to balance immediate operational requirements with long-term industrial and strategic considerations within Europe’s evolving defense framework.
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