Germany plans to buy additional 15 F-35 fighter jets, Politico reports

11/7/2025 16:01

Germany plans to buy 15 additional F-35 fighter jets, Politico reported on Friday citing several people familiar with the matter, a move that would increase the country's planned fleet of the U.S.-made jet to 50.



The report comes amid tensions between Germany and France on the joint Franco-German fighter jet FCAS partnership, after a report earlier this week that France now wants a workshare of 80%.



The demand would scrap the agreed division of tasks and possibly stop the project from entering its next phase, an industry source told Reuters.



The reported German order would also align with an agreement between NATO allies to raise their collective spending goal to 5% of output over the next decade, citing the long-term threat posed by Russia and the need to strengthen civil and military resilience.



A spokesperson for the German Defence Ministry said it generally did not comment "on possible procurement plans before they have gone through parliament."



So far, Germany has ordered 35 F-35s to replace a total of 85 ageing Tornado fighter jets that will be decommissioned.