Berlin, July 11, 2025 – Germany is reportedly planning to purchase an additional 15 U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets, according to sources cited by Politico and reported by Reuters. This would bring Germany’s total planned fleet of F-35s to 50, significantly boosting its NATO-aligned air power.
The move comes as Berlin’s partnership with Paris on the joint Franco-German fighter jet program (FCAS) is facing serious strain. A recent report revealed that France wants to lead 80% of the development work, which German officials see as unacceptable.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed on Wednesday that disagreements persist regarding the technical configuration, workload share, and intellectual property rights of the FCAS project. Without resolution, a defense industry source warned the program could miss its end-of-year timeline for entering the next phase.
Germany has already committed to buying 35 F-35s to replace its aging Tornado fleet. A military source told Reuters that the idea of purchasing 15 more jets had been under consideration for some time, but final numbers would be tied to updated NATO capability targets. The source hinted that the final count could be even higher.
Germany’s potential acquisition of more F-35s shows a pivot away from EU-led defense initiatives, driven by frustration with the stalled FCAS program. Turning to the U.S.-built F-35 reflects not only confidence in proven military hardware but also concern over Franco-German strategic alignment. If the FCAS collaboration collapses, Europe’s goal of strategic autonomy may suffer, pushing Germany deeper into the NATO framework.
🔗 Source: Reuters