Germany is preparing to order an additional 15 F-35 fighter jets from U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin, according to Spiegel.
The deal, reportedly valued at around €2.5 billion (approximately $2.9 billion), is expected to be presented to the Bundestag’s budget committee for approval.
Defense Minister Boris Pistorius plans to expand Germany’s F-35 fleet beyond the initial 35 aircraft already ordered. The aircraft are intended to replace the Luftwaffe’s aging Tornado fleet, which has been in service since the 1980s. Like the Tornado, the F-35 is certified to carry U.S. nuclear weapons stored in Germany under NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangement.
According to Reuters, confidential documents prepared for lawmakers outline the cost and rationale for the additional aircraft. The move aligns with Germany’s broader effort to strengthen its deterrence posture following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Ministry of Defense has not issued a public statement on the new order, but the reported acquisition reflects Berlin’s ongoing shift toward closer defense integration with the United States and NATO allies. The F-35A, the conventional takeoff and landing variant, has already been selected by multiple NATO countries for its stealth capabilities and interoperability in coalition operations.
The German government previously committed to purchasing 35 F-35s in 2022 as part of its €100 billion special defense fund, which was established after the start of the war in Ukraine. The procurement marked a departure from earlier skepticism in Berlin over U.S. stealth technology, signaling a broader reassessment of Germany’s defense priorities.
The additional aircraft order—if confirmed—would bring the total number of F-35s planned for Germany to 50. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2026, with infrastructure work already underway at Büchel Air Base, where the new jets will be stationed.
If finalized, the expanded F-35 procurement would further cement Germany’s role in NATO’s collective defense structure and enhance its capacity to respond to both conventional and nuclear threats in the European theater.
