Berlin confirms interest in additional F-35s – relations with France could deteriorate

Germany plans to order another fifteen F-35 fighter jets from the US company Lockheed Martin, thereby expanding its original order of 35 aircraft. This was confirmed by a parliamentary source to the news agency Reuters, corroborating a report in the German magazine Spiegel.

The estimated price for the additional aircraft is around 2.5 billion euros. The F-35 fighter jets are intended to replace the outdated fleet of 85 Tornado aircraft in the future.

Until now, these have also fulfilled the sensitive task of transporting American nuclear bombs in Germany as part of NATO's joint nuclear strategy. The F-35 in particular is capable of taking on this task in its entirety.

In July, Berlin denied any interest in purchasing a further 15 aircraft, but the expansion of the defense budget has paved the way for new investments in armaments.

The decision could strain relations with France, with which Germany has long been cooperating on the development of the new generation European fighter aircraft FCAS/SCAF.

(reuters, max)