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

GERMANY, JUL 11 – Germany will expand its F-35 fleet to 50 jets to replace Tornado fighters amid NATO targets and stalled Franco-German fighter jet project negotiations, sources said.

  • Germany announced plans to acquire 15 additional F-35 fighter jets, increasing its fleet to 50 amidst ongoing defense discussions in 2025.
  • This decision follows delays and disputes over the joint Franco-German FCAS fighter project, especially disagreements on sharing 80% of work to France.
  • German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pushed for stronger European military capabilities while stressing Europe’s need for strategic independence from the U.S.
  • At a Berlin industry event in June, Merz emphasized the need for Europe to enhance its own strength, cautioning that the U.S. will no longer tolerate Europe’s low defense spending.
  • The F-35 purchase signals a short-term pivot to U.S. defense hardware while the FCAS project’s future remains uncertain, with potential delays beyond this year.
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The joint project of France, Germany and Spain is blocked by internal tensions. Dassault wants control, Berlin threatens goodbye. The sixth generation jet risks flop

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

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.

·United Kingdom
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Politico Europe broke the news in Brussels, Belgium on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
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