The first German F-35A fighter aircraft has entered final assembly at the Lockheed Martin production facility in Fort Worth, Texas.
The aircraft has been moved to the final assembly station after its major structural components were joined, including the wing and forward, centre and aft fuselage sections. The process was completed using laser-guided alignment systems before the airframe was lifted into position for the next phase of production.
At this stage, the aircraft will receive its engine, control surfaces and remaining onboard systems. Final work will also include application of coatings and finishes ahead of flight testing and rollout later this year.
The aircraft is one of the first eight German F-35As currently in production in the United States, forming part of a wider programme to deliver 35 aircraft to Germany. Initial deliveries are planned to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas, where German pilots will undergo training.
The milestone follows earlier programme activity, including the start of major assembly work in 2024 and a visit by German officials to the production line. Lockheed Martin said the aircraft will provide advanced capabilities through features such as low observability, sensor integration and networked operations.
The F-35 programme forms a central element of Germany’s future air combat capability and is intended to support interoperability with allied air forces operating the same platform.
I really have a hard time seeing how Russia could pose any kind of conventional threat to European NATO members in 2030 given the size of Europes F35 fleet.
ENATO countries will have 600 F35’s in operation by the end of the decade which on its own would seem to be a force capable of decimating any Russian ground or airforce. That assumes the Donald doesn’t stage a coup and find some way of bricking European F35’s.
So why did we buy into the top tier on the F35 if Germany can make their own???
Did you even read the article?
Only Italy has an F35 production line other than the USA.
Germany isn’t building this
Tier 1 for research and development. Roughly 15% of every single F35 built of all 3 varients for any country is made in the UK. Every single rear fuselage is built at Samlesbury Lancashire.