Germany prepares to receive its first F-35A fighter as procurement moves forward
The Luftwaffe’s first F-35A, tail-number MG-01, completed its maiden flight in Fort Worth and will soon be delivered to Germany as part of a $11.64 billion deal for 35 jets.
The German Air Force’s inaugural F-35A Lightning II, identified as MG-01 and bearing a tricolor flag, finished its first flight at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility. This aircraft marks the start of a US Foreign Military Sales contract for 35 jets, a package worth about €10 billion that includes weapons, spares and ground support. A rollout event is planned, after which the jet will be moved to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where the first eight units will be used for pilot and maintainer training.
Once qualified, the fleet will be based at Büchel Air Base in Rhineland-Palatinate, near the Luxembourg border, with the Luftwaffe targeting initial operational capability in 2028 and final deliveries by late 2029. The purchase follows a shift in German defence policy after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, abandoning earlier European-focused projects and selecting the F-35 for its nuclear-bomb certification and advanced capabilities. Future expansions could raise the total number of aircraft to as many as 85.
Why it matters
Germany’s acquisition strengthens NATO air power and signals a major shift toward US-made fifth-generation fighters.
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