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Germany Receives First F-35A, Buchel Deliveries Start 2027

By Drooid · Sep 19, 2026, 2:48 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Germany received its first F-35A Lightning II fighter jet on 18 September 2026.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius attended the delivery ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth plant.
The jet will remain in the United States for pilot training at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Arkansas.
Deliveries to Büchel Air Base start in Q3 2027 and continue through 2029, reaching full capability.

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Story summary

Germany received its first F-35A Lightning II fighter jet on 18 September 2026.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius attended the delivery ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth plant.
The jet will remain in the United States for pilot training at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Arkansas.
Deliveries to Büchel Air Base start in Q3 2027 and continue through 2029, reaching full capability.