Germany Denies Reports of Additional F-35 Purchase

Confusion rippled through defense circles this week after Politico reported that Germany planned to acquire an additional 15 American F-35 fighter jets.

But the German Ministry of Defense moved quickly to quash the rumors, issuing a categorical denial during a press conference on July 11, 2025.

“As far as the number of aircraft we intend to purchase, we will—as always—inform parliament first and then, of course, the public,” a ministry spokesperson said, according to Militarnyi:

“There are no plans to order an additional 15 aircraft at this time.”

Rumors Tied to European Defense Tensions

The Politico report appeared to stem from speculation over delays and disputes within the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program—a joint project with France and Spain. Tensions have grown amid French demands for a larger share of production, fueling rumors that Berlin might turn to U.S. jets to plug potential capability gaps.

Currently, Germany has ordered 35 F-35A Lightning II jets from Lockheed Martin. Training for German pilots and technicians is scheduled to begin at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas in 2026, with deliveries of the aircraft expected to follow in 2027.

Berlin Reaffirms Commitment to European Defense

By publicly rejecting the reports, Berlin appears intent on signaling stability in its defense strategy and reinforcing its commitment to European collaboration despite friction over FCAS. The denial also seeks to ease concerns that Germany might undermine the flagship European project by expanding its reliance on U.S. aircraft.

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