The U.S. Dept. of State approved a proposed sale of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to the German Air Force, a potential $8.4-billion deal. Earlier this year the German Defense Minister and Air Force chief announced a commitment to the Lockheed Martin-built F-35A instead of the Boeing F-18 to replace Germany’s current fleet of PA-200 Tornado fighter jets.
When that choice was announced in March Germany said it was seeking to achieve some unity with other NATO members deploying the F-35, and to present a “credible deterrent” against Russia.
Germany is seen replacing its current fighter fleet by 2030.
The F-35 is a single-engine aircraft designed for deployment for ground attack and combat missions by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy. It is the largest U.S. defense program, and while Lockheed is the program’s lead contractor others include Pratt & Whitney, BAE Systems, and hundreds more manufacturers.
If the sale of F-35 aircraft proceeds under the U.S. Dept. of Defense’s Foreign Military Sales program Germany would join Belgium, Finland, Poland, Japan, and South Korea as FMS buyers of the F-35. Nine other nations (including NATO members U.K., Italy, and The Netherlands) are listed as F-35 program partners or participants.
