The 35 U.S.-made F-35 jets are intended to replace 85 ageing Tornado aircraft currently in service. “The defence ministry currently has no plans to procure additional F-35s beyond the 35 F-35s already contractually agreed,” the spokesperson stated during a regular news conference.
A military source told Reuters that the purchase of 15 more jets had been considered previously. However, that figure was reviewed after NATO introduced new targets for weapons systems and troop deployments.
According to the source, the initial planned number may no longer meet alliance requirements, and the number of additional jets ultimately needed could be higher. The source declined to confirm whether further procurement would take place.
The Politico report comes at a time of renewed strain between Germany and France over the joint Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project. A recent report indicated that France now seeks an 80% share of the programme’s workload, raising concerns over the project’s future.
An industry source told Reuters that such a demand would overturn the existing division of labour and could prevent the project from moving into its next development phase. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged on Wednesday that disagreements persist regarding the FCAS configuration, which has been delayed by disputes over task-sharing and intellectual property.
Source: Reuters.
