Aircraft
Lockheed Martin Rolls Out First German F-35A Fighter
First fighter due to arrive in-country in late 2027
F-35 in hangar against graphics on screen
Germany’s first F-35A, seen here during a handover ceremony at Forth Worth, bears the Luftwaffe designation 35+01. © Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin rolled out the inaugural F-35A Lightning II fighter jet destined for the German air force at the end of last week. The aircraft is the first of 35 nuclear-capable units destined to replace the Luftwaffe's ageing Panavia Tornado under an $8.8 billion deal formalized in December 2022.

During a handover ceremony on September 18 at the U.S. manufacturer’s Fort Worth, Texas facility, Lockheed Martin confirmed that the first eight German F-35s will be delivered to Ebbing Air National Guard Base for pilot training later this year. The first unit is set to arrive in-country in late 2027.

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