Germany is reportedly planning to purchase an additional 15 F-35 fighter jets, according to Politico, citing sources familiar with the matter. The move would bring the country’s total order of the US-made aircraft to 50, further strengthening its air force amid evolving NATO defence goals and deepening rifts with France over a rival joint European jet programme.
The German Defence Ministry has not officially commented, but military sources suggest the decision reflects a reassessment of Germany’s defence needs following NATO’s recent revision of targets for weapons and troop deployments.
Germany had previously committed to buying 35 F-35s to replace its ageing fleet of 85 Tornado jets. However, the additional order appears to be driven by a recognition that earlier projections may no longer meet NATO’s updated force posture expectations. One source indicated the final number of extra jets could exceed 15, though no official figure has been confirmed.
The announcement comes as tensions rise between Berlin and Paris over the future of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a joint Franco-German-Spanish fighter jet initiative. The project has faced persistent delays and disagreements over workshare and intellectual property. A recent push by France to secure 80% of the programme’s workload has fuelled concerns in Berlin, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledging ongoing disputes over the aircraft’s configuration.
Industry sources have warned that if France insists on its demands, the project may not be able to proceed to its next phase as planned by the end of the year, casting further doubt on Europe’s ambition to produce a homegrown next-generation fighter.
Germany’s continued investment in the F-35 programme could be seen as both a practical defence measure and a strategic hedge, as the future of the FCAS project grows increasingly uncertain.
Melissa Enoch
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