Germany’s First F-35A Moves to Final Finishes Ahead of September Rollout

Lockheed Martin announced that the Luftwaffe’s first F-35A Lightning II has completed final assembly at its Fort Worth, Texas plant and has entered the “Aircraft Final Finishes” stage. The aircraft is slated for a rollout on September 18, when it will be prepared for delivery and subsequent training in the United States. Seven additional German F-35As are already on the production line, according to Germany’s Defense Ministry.

Lockheed Martin says Germany’s first F-35A completes final assembly, moving toward U.S. training and NATO nuclear mission Germany’s first F-35 almost ready as Luftwaffe considers 15 more The Defense Post

Germany selected the F-35A in 2022 as its future nuclear-capable fighter and formally signed the procurement agreement in July 2023. The intergovernmental Letter of Offer and Acceptance was approved in late 2022, establishing a record order of 35 F-35As. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2026, with the first eight aircraft to be sent to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas for a year of joint training with U.S. personnel. The aircraft will replace the Panavia Tornado IDS fleet, which has served since the 1980s, and will be based permanently at Büchel Air Base in 2027 after infrastructure upgrades to support the stealth platform and its NATO nuclear-sharing role.

The Defense PostLockheed Martin says Germany’s first F-35A completes final assembly, moving toward U.S. training and NATO nuclear mission Germany’s first F-35 almost ready as Luftwaffe considers 15 more

Luftwaffe chief Lt. Gen. The prospect of additional jets has gained traction after the collapse of the sixth-generation FCAS programme with France and Spain, positioning the F-35 as a stopgap for Germany’s future air-combat needs. The current programme of record remains at 35 aircraft.

Germany’s first F-35 almost ready as Luftwaffe considers 15 more

The F-35A will provide Germany with fifth-generation stealth, advanced sensors, and networked communications, enhancing its ability to participate in NATO’s integrated air operations. Configured to carry U.S.-supplied B61 nuclear bombs, the fleet will shift Germany’s NATO nuclear role from the aging Tornado to a modern platform, reinforcing the alliance’s deterrence posture.

The Defense Post

After the September rollout, the first eight jets will undergo training at Ebbing AFB, joining Polish and Finnish crews already using the facility. Subsequent deliveries will continue through 2027, after which the Luftwaffe plans to cease further purchases of fourth-generation fighters, focusing instead on the F-35 and a future Eurofighter tranche slated for delivery between 2031 and 2034.

Germany’s first F-35 almost ready as Luftwaffe considers 15 more