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Germany on Friday received the first of 35 F-35A Lightning II fighter jets ordered from U.S. defense company Lockheed Martin under a 2022 deal to replace its aging Tornado fleet.
The first eight aircraft will go to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas for pilot training this fall, with the first German F-35s expected in-country in late 2027 and full operational capability by 2029, the company said.
Lockheed Martin handed over the aircraft to the German government at a ceremony at its production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, attended by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
Pistorius described the F-35A as "the world's most advanced combat aircraft" and called the handover "the beginning of a new era for the German Air Force."
He also pointed to the aircraft’s stealth capabilities, integration with other platforms and advanced sensor technology, saying the F-35A can gather large amounts of data and rapidly turn it into a comprehensive operational picture.
Pistorius said the F-35A would provide a key capability for Germany and NATO, while allowing Berlin to work more closely with other F-35 operators through common standards, technology and procedures.
German industry has contributed to the F-35 program since its inception in 2001 and will remain part of its global supply chain. Lockheed Martin is also exploring further partnerships in Germany covering manufacturing, sustainment, training, research and development, the company added.
The delivery comes as European countries, including Germany, increase defense spending amid pressure from the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. At the 2025 NATO summit in The Hague, allies committed to raising annual defense and security-related spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, including at least 3.5% for core defense requirements.
European allies and Canada increased their combined defense spending by nearly 20% in real terms in 2025 from the previous year, while Germany has committed to reaching the 3.5% core defense target by 2029.
Germany is also expanding its defense industrial base as it replaces aging equipment and builds up military capabilities. NATO has said the increase in spending is being accompanied by efforts to expand defense production capacity across Europe and North America.
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