12:18 20-10-2025

Germany to Buy 15 More F-35 Jets for Nuclear Role

By Lutz Blohm from Schifferstadt, Germany - Lockheed Martin F-35, CC BY-SA 2.0, Link

Germany plans to purchase 15 additional F-35 fighter jets from the U.S. for nuclear deterrence missions, with deliveries expected to begin in 2027.

According to journalists from Spiegel, Germany plans to purchase an additional 15 fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets from the United States. Citing documents from the Ministry of Defense, the publication reported that these American aircraft are intended for use within the framework of nuclear deterrence operations.

The report stated that Defense Minister Boris Pistorius intends to finalize a new order for the aircraft. The contract with Lockheed Martin is expected to cost approximately €2.5 billion from the national budget.

Earlier, the German Defense Ministry had already placed an order for 35 °F-35s, with the first deliveries scheduled for 2027.

The new F-35s are set to replace the aging Tornado jets, which have long been used for nuclear strike missions and for delivering U.S. nuclear warheads stationed in Germany.