Germany Receives First F-35A From Lockheed Martin — SkimNews
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- Germany received its first F-35A Lightning II from Lockheed Martin on Friday at a ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas, attended by Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.
- Lockheed Martin will deliver all 35 F-35As Germany ordered in 2022 — the year Russia invaded Ukraine — to replace Germany's aging Tornado fleet and fulfil NATO nuclear-sharing duties.
- Boris Pistorius called the F-35A "the world's most advanced combat aircraft," citing its stealth capabilities, sensor technology, and close integration with other platforms.
- European NATO members, including Germany, agreed in 2025 to devote 5% of GDP to security-related spending by 2035, responding to years of Trump administration pressure.
- The Trump administration has long pushed Europe to raise defense budgets so Washington can focus on other priorities, including countering China.
Why it matters: Germany's F-35A is the nuclear-certified platform central to NATO's nuclear-sharing arrangement, meaning Berlin will operate jets capable of delivering US tactical nuclear weapons — a four-year procurement finally arriving as Europe commits to 5% of GDP for defense by 2035. For Lockheed Martin, one of its largest European F-35 orders is now converting into deliveries.
Ask SkimNews
