JPO celebrates Germany’s F-35A rollout
FORT WORTH, Texas — The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO), Germany’s Ministry of Defense and industry partners marked another major milestone with a rollout ceremony for Germany’s first F-35A at Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, Sep. 18.
This ceremony signifies German Luftwaffe’s formal transition to fifth‑generation airpower and is an important step in Germany’s integration into the F‑35 enterprise and NATO.
“A new era begins for the German Air Force today. The new F-35A is the most advanced combat aircraft in the world,” said German Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius. He called it “a promise that Germany will step up to defend itself and defend its allies.”
Honorable Daniel Zimmerman, performing the duties of the U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, echoed that sentiment. “Germany has proven itself a model ally, and their procurement of the F-35 is no exception,” he said. Zimmerman added that the decision “reinforces our shared vision for defense in the European theater.”
Germany’s 2022 selection of the F-35A Lightning II to replace its aging Tornado fleet marks a pivotal step in modernizing its national defense. By acquiring 35 of these fifth-generation aircraft, Germany gains a dual-capable platform designed for seamless integration with allied operations.
The transition is already underway. Germany’s first F-35A is preparing for deployment to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas, where Luftwaffe pilots and maintainers will undergo intensive training alongside U.S. and international partners. Following this training phase, the aircraft will permanently station at Büchel Air Base in Germany.
As the 20th nation, and the 13th in Europe, to adopt the F-35, Germany joins an expanding user community. This milestone reinforces the international industrial base, bolstering global production capacity, securing supply chain resilience and enhancing collective mission readiness across the alliance.
The rollout of the F-35A will strengthen military ties among European allies operating the stealth fighter for decades to come.
About the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) is the Department of War’s focal point for defining, developing, acquiring, sustaining and fielding the F-35 Lightning II. In partnership with international allies and industrial partners, the JPO ensures the delivery of affordable, fifth-generation airpower to the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, international partners and foreign military sales customers. The JPO is dedicated to maximizing the operational readiness, interoperability and lethality of the global F-35 fleet to deter adversaries and secure national and allied defense interests worldwide.
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