German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius intends to order an additional 15 F-35 fighter jets from U.S. manufacturer Lockheed Martin, a parliamentary source told Reuters in October 2025, confirming a report by Der Spiegel magazine. Planners expect the aircraft to cost about $2.9 billion, according to confidential documents prepared for parliament’s budget committee, the source said. Another source familiar with the matter confirmed the discussions to buy additional aircraft, without citing a number.
Germany already ordered 35 of the U.S.-made jets to replace its fleet of 85 aging Tornado fighter jets, which are set to be decommissioned. The F-35 aircraft will succeed the Tornado jets in their role of carrying U.S. nuclear bombs stored in Germany in the event of a conflict.
In July, Berlin denied plans to acquire an additional 15 F-35 fighter jets, but a significantly expanded defense budget has since created more scope for weapons purchases. At the time, a military source told Reuters that the idea of acquiring 15 more F-35 jets had been part of earlier discussions.