Germany seeks extra F-35 jets amid European programme snags

BERLIN/Washington – Germany is considering ordering more U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets, two sources told Reuters, which would deepen Berlin’s dependence on American military technology as its joint next-generation fighter jet program with France wanes. Berlin is in talks that could lead to the purchase of more than 35 additional jets, a source said. A second source did not specify the number. Both sources warned that the outcome was still uncertain.

Asked for comment, a German government spokesman rejected current plans to purchase additional F-35 fighter jets.

“There are no plans and no decisions,” the spokesman said.

Germany has purchased 35 aircraft, with deliveries to begin later this year in 2022.

FRENCH-GERMAN FIGHT JET COOPERATION ON ROCKS

The potential for the purchase of more Lockheed Martin stealth fighters at a cost of more than $80 million each has emerged as Germany and France reach an impasse on the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program.

The 100 billion euro ($118 billion) project, launched in 2017 to replace France’s Rafales and ⁠Eurofighters from 2040, has been halted due to industrial competition.

Insiders expect Germany and France to abandon joint fighter development but continue to cooperate on drones and the combat cloud, the digital backbone that connects manned and unmanned platforms within the FCAS system.
Purchasing more F-35 jets would buy Germany time to find a solution for the development of the sixth-generation fighter jet and find a partner for such a project. A spokesman for defense contractor Lockheed Martin said the company is focused on producing F-35s currently ordered by Germany. A Pentagon spokesman referred questions to Germany.

Expanding Germany’s F-35 fleet would mark a significant strategic shift away from European defense autonomy and toward deeper military integration with the United States, a priority for European Union member France.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday questioned whether it still made sense for his country’s air force to develop a manned sixth-generation jet, as FCAS is trying to do.

“Will we still need a manned fighter jet in 20 years? Do we still need it, given that we will have to develop it at great expense?” Merz said in the Machtwechsel podcast.

F-35 planes will replace Tornado jets in the mission to transport US nuclear bombs stored in Germany in the event of a conflict.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said last week that the fate of FCAS would become clear within a few days. ($1 = 0.8480 euros