Despite Ukraine crisis, Germany is expected to buy F-35 fighter jets from the US

A German government minister announced this week that the German government will purchase several dozen American F-35 fighter jets amid a conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

In a statement, Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said she had begun the process of ordering F-35 aircraft as a replacement for the Tornado in the role of nuclear sharing. Apparently, she was referring to Germany's aging fleet of Panavia Tornado aircraft, which the country has utilized since the 1980s and which will be phased out in the next few years.

The F-35 jets, which have been called the most advanced aircraft in the world due to their electronic warfare capabilities and stealth capability, will be updated to be capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Currently, Germany's Tornado jets are capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

Germany will also upgrade its Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets for electronic warfare, Lambrecht said Tuesday when announcing the decision.

Germany’s air force commander, Ingo Gerhartz, said the current war in Ukraine made it necessary to choose Lockheed Martin’s F-35s. Previously, the government had considered replacing the Luftwaffe’s Tornados with a mix of different U.S. and European-made aircraft.

The F-35s are still in production in Israel, South Korea, Japan, and Australia. F-35 variants are also in service or awaiting delivery in Finland, Switzerland, Belgium, Poland, Denmark, Italy, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.

15 March 2022