AFP – “The Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support of the Bundeswehr [the German army] has signed a purchase agreement with the United States Air Force for 35 F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft, which will be delivered between 2026 and 2029,” the embassy said in a statement.
In March of this year, the German government had announced the purchase of 35 of these Lockheed Martin-manufactured aircraft, in addition to 15 Eurofighter aircraft, to replace part of its aging fleet of Tornado fighters.
But the German Defense Ministry said in December that it was concerned about possible “delays and additional costs” of this nearly 10 billion euro order, according to a letter sent to the parliamentary budget committee.
Eventually, the doubts were dispelled and the Bundestag, the lower house of the German parliament, gave the green light for the purchase on Wednesday.
The first planes are scheduled to go into operation in 2028.