WASHINGTON — German and American officials marked the rollout of Germany’s inaugural F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in a ceremony held Thursday, hailing the occasion as a testament to the enduring defense partnership between the two nations.
The event, hosted at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas, featured remarks from Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who described the aircraft as “living proof” of the vitality of the transatlantic relationship and “an important step towards further strengthening collective deterrence and defense.”
Reflecting on the jet before him, Pistorius added that it represented “a promise that Germany will step up to defend itself and defend its allies.”
Dan Zimmerman, performing the duties of the US Deputy Undersecretary for Acquisition and Sustainment, echoed those sentiments. “Germany has proven itself a model ally, and their procurement of the F-35 is no exception,” he said, adding that the deal “reinforces our shared vision for defense in the European theater.”
For years, Germany’s path to acquiring the F-35 appeared uncertain. However, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Berlin signed an $8.8 billion agreement in 2022 for 35 of the stealth fighter jets. Discussions are now underway regarding a potential follow-on order, particularly after the collapse earlier this year of the Franco-German-Spanish sixth-generation FCAS program.
According to a statement from Lockheed Martin, the first eight German aircraft will be sent to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas this fall to begin pilot training, with the first German F-35s expected to arrive in-country in late 2027.
“As Germany prepares to take ownership of its first F-35A, we are proud to build on more than 50 years of partnership and deliver a capability that will strengthen European security and support the Luftwaffe for decades to come,” said OJ Sanchez, president of Lockheed’s Aeronautics Division, in a company statement.
The rollout comes just days after Pistorius visited the Pentagon and met with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Despite recent political tensions between Washington and Berlin, both officials emphasized that military ties remain robust, and they signed a “Statement of Intent to significantly intensify defense-industrial collaboration,” according to a Pentagon readout.