The German government is examining a possible increase in the existing F-35 order from 35 to 43 aircraft. This is according to a report by the Reuters news agency, which cites a military source. Germany has requested at least terms for eight additional copies of the modern fighter jet from the USA.
The F-35 is intended to replace the Tornado fleet as a carrier aircraft for nuclear weapons and thus secure Germany's nuclear participation within NATO. The Büchel air base is being converted for this purpose in record time and at considerable financial expense.
The Air Force's first F-35 pilots are to be trained on German aircraft in the USA from 2026, and the first F-35s are expected in Büchel the following year. The F-2028s stationed there are expected to be operational by 35 at the latest.
The F-35 is considered one of the most modern fighter jets in the world, but it is also known to be maintenance-intensive. According to a Pentagon report from spring 2024, the operational suitability of the F-35 fleet is below expectations and requirements. The readiness of the US F-35 fleet had fallen to a third. At the end of May, the manufacturer Lockheed Martin also had to cope with a setback when a pre-production aircraft of the new TR2 standard was lost in a crash in New Mexico.