The report comes as tensions grow between Germany and France over the joint Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme. Earlier this week, it was reported that France now wants an 80% share in the project.
Such a demand would overturn the previously agreed division of tasks and could potentially halt the project’s progression into its next phase, an industry source told Reuters. The FCAS initiative has already faced delays and disputes over work allocation and intellectual property.
The reported German move to expand its F-35 fleet would also align with a NATO-wide agreement to raise collective defence spending to 5% of GDP over the next ten years. This increase is aimed at addressing the long-term threat posed by Russia and boosting both civil and military resilience.
A spokesperson for the German Defence Ministry stated that it generally does not comment “on possible procurement plans before they have gone through parliament.” Germany has so far committed to buying 35 F-35s to replace 85 ageing Tornado jets that are due to be retired.
A military source told Reuters that the option to buy 15 more jets had been part of earlier discussions, but that the figures had to be adjusted following NATO’s new targets for armament and troop levels. The source added that the initial number may not have been sufficient, and a larger procurement could ultimately be required, though this was not confirmed.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged on Wednesday that disagreements over the FCAS project configuration persist. The programme has been hampered by internal disputes between partners, particularly concerning industrial responsibilities and technology ownership.
