Germany Receives Its First F-35 Fighter Jet from the United States Amid Major Military Buildup

Lockheed Martin formally presented Germany's first F-35A Lightning II fighter jet to the German government during a ceremony held in Fort Worth, Texas on Friday. This delivery marks a significant milestone as the country accelerates its major military buildup and increases defence spending to align with a broader push by European NATO members to strengthen their armed forces.

The aircraft handover is part of Germany’s initiative to fulfil NATO nuclear-sharing duties and modernise its military following decades of relatively low defence spending. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius attended the event at the production facility in Fort Worth, Texas.

“This is the beginning of a new era for the German Air Force: the new F-35A fighter jet is the world’s most advanced combat aircraft,” Pistorius stated. “It is characterised by its stealth capabilities, close integration with other platforms, and exceptionally powerful sensor technology.”

Germany initially ordered 35 F-35As in 2022, the same year Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, with these advanced jets intended to replace Germany’s ageing Tornado fleet. With Washington long pressuring Europe to increase defence spending—allowing the United States to focus on other challenges like countering China—European nations are significantly ramping up their military budgets. Consequently, these countries agreed in 2025 to devote five percent of GDP to security-related spending by 2035.