FORT WORTH— Germany’s first F-35A Lightning II has reached a major production milestone after receiving its Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engine at Lockheed Martin’s facility near Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Texas. The installation moves the aircraft beyond structural assembly and into the final stages before rollout, flight testing, and delivery later in 2026.
The jet is the first of 35 F-35A fighters ordered by Germany through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program. Before reaching Büchel Air Base in Germany, the initial aircraft will train at Ebbing Air National Guard Base near Fort Smith (FSM), Arkansas, supporting the Luftwaffe’s planned transition away from the Panavia Tornado fleet.
Germany’s First F-35A Gets F135 Engine
New images released by Lockheed Martin show technicians integrating the F135 engine into the aircraft assigned to Germany. The visuals confirm that the jet has progressed past structural assembly and entered the concluding production phase.
The engine installation follows the aircraft’s entry into final assembly earlier this year. During that stage, Lockheed Martin joined the four major structural sections, including the wing assembly and the forward, center, and aft fuselage sections, using laser-guided alignment systems.
With the F135 now fitted, the aircraft will continue through final systems integration, control surface installation, software validation, and low observable finishing work before ground and flight testing begin. Lockheed Martin expects the jet to undergo rollout and first flight activities later this year, ahead of delivery.
The F135 remains the most powerful fighter engine currently in operational service. It provides the F-35A with the thrust required to support its stealth design, sensor fusion, and multi-role combat capabilities, The Defense Watch reported.
Why Germany Selected The F-35A
Germany chose the F-35A to replace its aging Panavia Tornado IDS fleet, particularly for the nation’s role in NATO’s nuclear sharing mission. Under this arrangement, allied aircraft retain the capability to deliver U.S.-supplied B61 nuclear gravity bombs if required by NATO policy.
The decision marked one of the most significant shifts in German combat aviation planning in decades. Instead of pursuing an interim fighter solution, Berlin selected a fifth-generation platform already integrated across a growing number of NATO air forces.
The F-35A also delivers capabilities that extend beyond traditional strike missions. The aircraft combines stealth characteristics, advanced electronic warfare functions, sensor fusion, and networked battlefield awareness, allowing it to operate in heavily contested environments.
The acquisition strengthens interoperability with key NATO allies, including the United States, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Finland, Poland, and other European operators that are flying or preparing to field the F-35.
Order Background And Approval Timeline
The 35 aircraft were ordered under a government-to-government agreement approved in December 2022.
The deal represents more than a fleet replacement for Germany, forming part of a wider effort to enhance deterrence, strengthen alliance interoperability, and maintain credible airpower within NATO’s defense structure.
Training Pipeline Already Taking Shape
Before arriving in Germany, the first Luftwaffe F-35As will be stationed at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
The facility is developing into a major international F-35 training hub and will also support pilot and maintainer training for other European operators.
The first eight German aircraft are expected to operate from Ebbing during the initial training phase before transferring to Germany.
The fleet will ultimately be based at Büchel Air Base, the future center of Germany’s F-35 operations. According to program schedules, the first aircraft are expected to arrive at Büchel in 2027.
Strategic Significance For Europe
The progress of Germany’s first F-35A comes amid a broader expansion of fifth-generation fighter procurement across Europe. Multiple NATO members are accelerating these acquisitions as regional security concerns continue to drive modernization efforts.
For Germany, the engine installation may appear to be a routine manufacturing event, but it marks a visible transition from assembly to aircraft completion.
As the jet moves closer to rollout and flight testing, the Luftwaffe’s long-planned entry into the fifth-generation era is becoming a reality.
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