Utopia Talk / Politics / Germany seeking to buy more F-35s

murder rank	Thu Feb 19 07:04:34 Germany is considering ordering more U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets, two sources told Reuters, a move that would deepen Berlin's reliance on American military technology as its joint next-generation fighter program with France falters. One source said Berlin was in negotiations that could lead to the purchase of over 35 additional jets. Germany purchased 35 of the aircraft in 2022 which are due to begin delivery later this year. The potential acquisition of more Lockheed Martin, opens new tab stealth fighters, at a cost of more than $80 million per plane, would follow pressure from Washington on European allies to increase defence spending. If all the potential F-35 purchases and existing orders come to fruition, Germany would have around 85 F-35s. But the sources cautioned the outcome was still uncertain. Germany's Defence Ministry did not immediately comment while a Pentagon spokesperson referred questions to Germany. A spokesperson for defence contractor Lockheed Martin, opens new tab said the company was focused on building F-35s already ordered by Germany. In October, a German parliamentary source said the defence minister intended to order 15 more F-35s. Germany was expected to announce that purchase in the near-term, the second source said. Expansion of Germany's F-35 fleet would mark a significant strategic shift toward deeper military integration with the United States and away from European defence autonomy, a priority for fellow European Union member France. Germany and France are deadlocked on their Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, a problem-plagued, 100-billion-euro effort launched in 2017 to build a next-generation aircraft to replace French, and German and Spanish jets starting in 2040. Under the emerging scenario, Germany and France would abandon the FCAS project. A commitment by Germany to add F-35s to its arsenal would also have implications for NATO as the jet plays a key role in the alliance's nuclear strategy. Buying more F-35 jets would give Germany time to figure out developing and finding a partner for a jet project. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday questioned whether developing a manned sixth-generation fighter jet, as FCAS has sought to do, still made sense for his country's air force. "Will we still need a manned fighter jet in 20 years' time? Do we still need it, given that we will have to develop it at great expense?" Merz said on the Machtwechsel podcast published on Wednesday. Berlin's 2022 decision to buy the U.S.-made F-35 was driven by its NATO obligation to deliver U.S. nuclear bombs stored in Germany if called upon. The F-35 is the only Western fighter jet certified to carry the most modern B61 nuclear bombs and is central to replacing Germany's aging Tornado jets, which play that role now. While insiders expect Germany and France to abandon a joint fighter jet, they anticipate the allies will continue to cooperate on drones and digital warfare infrastructure. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said last week the fate of FCAS would become clear within days. https://ww...alters-sources-say-2026-02-19/
Pillz rank	Thu Feb 19 07:08:48 But what about a strong Europe that doesn't need no american sugar daddy and is committed to defending Greenland from Orange man?
Sam Adams rank	Thu Feb 19 07:16:27 Lol @ seb. There is no conceivable path to a European modern fighter for a price nearly as low as what Lockheed can mass produce f35s at. Not to mention the modern electronic warfare tools that the eus might not be able to produce at all at any price.
Pillz rank	Thu Feb 19 08:54:55 EU military industry engineers and designers are not yet diverse enough. 50 million more refugees will be needed to reach peak efficiency and innovation. Somali-German engineering will combine the tactics of Toyota technicals with the excellence of German automotive design, and the expertise of South East Asian Britians in electronic replicas to strap hundreds of laser pointers to fleets of pickups to deny air space. Then, the F-35s will be paper weights parked above Palestinian Tunnel bombs But this requires more de-colonialization of the engineering and military domains.
Seb rank	Thu Feb 19 10:00:49 NaMBLA: It's not cost, its Dassault being divas on workshare. You've got GCAP/Tempest France will go it alone for a carrier based craft Germany will probably partner with Sweden on their replacement for Grippen now. F35 uses EW components produced by Leonardo. European militaries haven't put a lot of emphasis on buying it, but European aerospace companies are good at the tech. NaMBLA once again knows nothing.
	show deleted posts

Your Name:
Your Password:
Your Message: