German Air Force received its first F-35 aircraft

German Air Force has received its first F-35 aircraft

On September 18, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius received the first F-35A fighter jet destined for the German Air Force in the US state of Texas.

The handover ceremony took place at the Fort Worth headquarters of Lockheed Martin, the aircraft's manufacturer.

Lockheed Martin hailed this handover as an important milestone for Germany and NATO. Pistorius, meanwhile, emphasized that the delivery of the F-35A aircraft marks the beginning of a "new era" for the German Air Force.

"The new F-35A fighter is the most modern combat aircraft in the world," he said.

According to him, the aircraft is distinguished by its stealth technology and powerful sensor system. The F-35A can collect large amounts of data and merge them into a single operational picture in a short period of time.

The German Defense Minister announced that the initial fighters will be delivered in 2026, and full operational readiness of the F-35A aircraft is planned to be achieved by 2029.

Pistorius also stated that Germany, along with 19 other nations, is practically strengthening transatlantic defense cooperation by using common standards, technologies, and procedures.

**The first eight F-35s will remain in the US**

The first eight F-35 aircraft destined for the German Air Force will remain in the US for now. They will be used to train German pilots and technicians.

Starting from 2027, it is planned to station the first aircraft at the Büchel Air Base in the German federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The F-35A fighters will replace the German Air Force's Tornado aircraft there.

During his visit to the US, on September 15, Pistorius also signed an arms agreement with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth aimed at expanding defense cooperation.

Earlier, Saudi Arabia purchased F-35 fighter jets from the US. Saudi Arabia made a direct appeal to US President Donald Trump in early 2025 to purchase the aircraft. The Kingdom has long expressed interest in Lockheed Martin's fighter jets. According to the State Department, congressional approval is also required for the sale of the fighter jets.