Lockheed Martin announced the milestone after completing final assembly of the aircraft at its Fort Worth, Texas, plant in August. The company had subsequently moved the jet into Aircraft Final Finishes.
Germany selected the F-35A in 2022 and signed the procurement agreement in July 2023. Deliveries were scheduled to begin in 2026 under a package that includes engines, mission equipment, weapons, spare parts, training and logistics support.
The program will give the Luftwaffe a fifth-generation aircraft with stealth, advanced sensors and networked communications. It is also intended to improve Germany’s ability to operate within NATO’s integrated air missions.
Germany’s future airpower just took flight. 🇩🇪⚡
The nation’s first F-35 has completed its first flight, marking a major milestone for the program and the future of the Luftwaffe. pic.twitter.com/vvEOcTmBnB
— Lockheed Martin Europe (@LMEuropeNews) September 8, 2026
“Congratulations to Germany on procuring the F-35A,” said Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, F-35 Program Executive Officer, when the purchase was announced. “Germany is the ninth foreign military sales country to join the program.”
“We look forward to working with them to deliver the F-35 Air System to meet their national defense requirements,” Schmidt added. Germany’s order expanded the F-35’s presence among European NATO members.
“It is an honor to formally welcome Germany to the F-35 Lightning II Program,” said Bridget Lauderdale, Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager of the F-35 program. “Germany’s participation ensures the F-35’s European alliance continues to strengthen and grow through interoperability with NATO and ally nations.”
German pilots and maintenance personnel will train alongside U.S. personnel at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas. Washington and Berlin agreed to establish the training presence in 2024.
Germany is also upgrading Büchel Air Base to host the new aircraft. The work includes facilities and security infrastructure required for F-35 operations and NATO nuclear sharing.
Lockheed Martin expects more than 550 F-35s to operate from over 10 European countries by the 2030s. The regional fleet is also expected to include two U.S. F-35 squadrons stationed at RAF Lakenheath in Britain.
