Germany's Luftwaffe flies its first F-35 from Lockheed Martin's Texas plant
The inaugural F-35A for the German Luftwaffe completed a test flight on 8 September from the Fort Worth production line, bearing German markings and a U.S. training command logo.
The Luftwaffe's first F-35A performed a test flight on 8 September from Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth, Texas, production line, shortly after the aircraft left the assembly line and received its final coating. The jet carries the serial “35+01,” a German flag on the tail fin, and the GAFTTCOM USA insignia, reflecting the U.S. training program for German pilots and crew. An official hand-over ceremony is planned for September, signaling the beginning of a modernisation phase for Germany's air force.
The new fighters are slated to replace the aging Tornado fleet from 2030 onward, which currently serve as carriers for tactical nuclear weapons. Training for German crews will commence at the Ebbing National Guard base in Arkansas, with the first batch of eight aircraft expected to arrive there in the coming months before moving to the tactical wing base 33 in Büchel later next year.
