Germany greenlights F-35 jet purchase for nuclear strike role
Germany's F-35s will replace its ageing fleet of Tornadoes. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)
Germany is buying the F-35A conventional take-off and landing variant of the fighter jet.
The German Parliament's budget committee has greenlit the purchase of 35 Lockheed Martin F-35s for the German Air Force.
The F-35s will replace ageing Tornadoes in the nuclear-carrying role in a deal worth €8.3 billion ($8.8 billion).
The Foreign Military Sale (FMS) includes engines, role-specific mission equipment, spare and replacement parts, technical and logistic support, training and armament.
Related Articles
Remarkable turnaround sees Germany pick F-35 and Eurofighter ECR
Singapore leaves door open to F-35 variants
UPDATED: FCAS is ‘on the way to first flight’, says Airbus
German Air Force head Lt Gen Ingo Gerhartz said in a statement: 'There is only one answer to Putin's aggression: unity in NATO and credible deterrence. That is precisely why the decision for the F-35 is without alternative,'
Gerhartz added that, combined with further development of the Eurofighter Typhoon; the German Air Force was taking 'an important step' towards the future.
Deliveries of the aircraft will begin in 2026. The first eight F-35s will be stationed in the US for pilot and ground crew training.
From 2027, aircraft will be stationed at Büchel Air Base to enable nuclear participation.
Over 875 F-35s have been delivered and are in service with numerous air forces.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Tornado Replacement (F-35A) [Germany]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability moves ahead with development contracts]()
NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability moves ahead with development contracts
The Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) programme is a transnational effort across NATO to replace a range of helicopters which are expected to begin retiring from the mid-2030s.
-
![Boeing to upgrade software for KC-46A tanker]()
Boeing to upgrade software for KC-46A tanker
The KC-46A upgrades will improve the platform’s mission readiness, performance in challenged airspace and rapid deployment capabilities.
-
![Teledyne FLIR promotes ITAR-free Star SAFIRE imaging payload at FIA]()
Teledyne FLIR promotes ITAR-free Star SAFIRE imaging payload at FIA
The Ultraforce 380-HDc, launched at Farnborough International Airshow, builds on Teledyne FLIR’s successful Star SAFIRE family of systems and is aimed at both the military and security markets.
-
![Dutch and Austrian governments collaborate on Embraer C-390 acquisition at Farnborough]()
Dutch and Austrian governments collaborate on Embraer C-390 acquisition at Farnborough
The two nations will split the acquisition of the C-390s to boost their airlift capacities.
