Germany has received its first F-35A Lightning II fighter jet from U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin, marking a major step in Berlin’s plan to replace its aging Tornado fleet with fifth-generation combat aircraft.

Lockheed Martin presented Germany’s first F-35A to government officials during a ceremony at the company’s production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 18. Germany ordered 35 F-35As under a deal announced in 2022.

The first eight aircraft are scheduled to be delivered to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas this fall, where German pilots will undergo training. The first German F-35s are expected to arrive in Germany in late 2027, with full operational capability planned for 2029, according to Lockheed Martin.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius described the aircraft's arrival as the beginning of a new era for the German Air Force, highlighting its stealth capabilities, advanced sensors and ability to integrate with other military platforms.

“The F-35A provides a decisive key capability – for the German Air Force and for the whole of NATO,” Pistorius said, according to Lockheed Martin.

The F-35 is designed to combine low-observable, or stealth, characteristics with advanced sensors and data-sharing capabilities. Germany's adoption of the aircraft will also allow its air force to operate within the wider international F-35 network used by allied countries.

Lieutenant General Holger Neumann, chief of the German Air and Space Force, said the aircraft would bring significant changes not only to Germany's military capabilities but also to how its forces train, command and conduct operations.

Germany seeks to modernize its air force

Germany's F-35 purchase is part of a broader effort to modernize its armed forces and replace legacy aircraft. The 35-aircraft program includes engines, mission equipment, spare parts, logistical support, training and weapons.

German industry has participated in the F-35 program since its early stages and is expected to continue contributing to the aircraft's global supply chain, according to Lockheed Martin.

The company said more than 1,355 F-35 aircraft are currently operational worldwide and that the global fleet has accumulated more than one million flight hours. The aircraft operates from 42 bases, including bases in 12 countries that operate F-35s on their own territory.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics President OJ Sanchez said Germany's participation would build on more than five decades of cooperation between the company and the country.

The F-35 program has become an increasingly important element of air-force modernization among NATO members, with Germany joining a growing group of European countries operating or procuring the aircraft. (ILKHA)