F-35A: The Luftwaffe on the  Threshold of the “5th Gen”

In a few months, the Luftwaffe will reach the next level in crewed combat aircraft. The
completion of the first German F-35A is imminent. It will leave the production line at Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth later this year. The first trainees have already completed system-specific training

A look back: on 14 March 2022, the Federal Ministry of Defence announced the decision to procure the F-35A as the successor to the proven Tornado—particularly in the role of nuclear sharing. A long period of uncertainty regarding the continuation of nuclear sharing thus came to an end, in the shadow of the war that had just broken out in Ukraine. Nine months later, on 14 December 2022, the contract with the US Government for the procurement of 35 F-35A combat aircraft was signed. Since then, preparations for the introduction of the weapon system have been running continuously and, so to speak, “with afterburner.”

There is no schedule margin. Procurement, completion of infrastructure, and training of personnel have been optimised for the earliest possible availability. It is quite remarkable that the key project milestones, as defined at the project’s start in 2022, have not had to be postponed so far. For an armament project of this magnitude, this is not a given and is primarily due to the close cooperation between BAAINBw, BAIUDBw and the Luftwaffe, as well as very close coordination with the US side. Since the F-35 has already been introduced in more than a dozen nations, many processes are largely standardised and the Bundeswehr benefits from the experience gained so far in the program. The capabilities that characterise a fifth-generation fighter aircraft have now proven themselves in combat operations, for example in the engagement of Russian drones in Polish airspace in September 2025 by Dutch fighters and in the defence against Iranian drones in March 2026 by British jets over Jordan. Advanced sensors whose data are processed and merged —“fused”— for the pilot, a higher degree of connectivity between aircraft within a formation, and low observability are the key characteristics of this generation of fighter aircraft. Operating such a system also means dealing with the latest technologies in datalinks and signature reduction. This entails the need to protect critical information about system capabilities and to take technical and educational measures to do so. These precautions are an important part of the preparation and transition phase, for example with regard to organisational structures and infrastructure measures.

In autumn 2026, the first German F-35A will be delivered with the registration “35+01.” It will carry the crest of the Luftwaffe Tactical Training Command in the United States on its vertical tail, as it will be transferred together with the following seven jets to the training base at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas. In Fort Smith, initial training for German pilots will be conducted by an instructor team composed of both USAF and Luftwaffe pilots. The first German F-35A pilots have already been selected. Initially, these will be experienced Tornado and Eurofighter pilots. It is important to incorporate the experience of pilots from both aircraft types, since the F-35A, as a multirole fighter, can be employed in a wide range of conventional roles in addition to the nuclear sharing mission. As early as possible—likely from the beginning of 2029—young pilots will also be trained directly on the F-35A immediately after completing their basic flight training.

Approximately one year after the transfer of the first jet to Fort Smith, the first F-35A for Tactical Air Wing 33 in Büchel will be delivered and subsequently transferred to Germany. The F-35 fleets of European operator nations will grow significantly in the coming years. At the beginning of the next decade, well over 700 F-35A and F-35B aircraft are expected to be in service in Europe, forming a powerful fifth-generation fighter force. After the delivery of the German aircraft is completed, the Tornado can be retired in 2030.

The introduction of a new combat aircraft is no day-to-day business and takes place in the Luftwaffe only about every 20 years. As with the introduction of the Tornado in the 1980s and the start of Eurofighter flight operations in the early 2000s, the F-35A will also bring changes in organisational structures, cooperation relationships, and training systems. In many areas, the Luftwaffe can rely on the experience of other nations in the worldwide F-35 program. Among the now 20 program nations, there is a structured exchange, in which, for European operator nations—despite frequently described shifts in US foreign policy priorities—the US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) plays a decisive coordinating role.

The central role of the United States in the program also regularly leads to criticism and warnings of potential dependencies on the transatlantic partner. The alleged possibility of remotely restricting the capabilities of the F-35 has by now proven to be a myth. At the same time, it is clear that the F-35 program is a complex multinational project with multifaceted interdependencies among the eight partner nations and the 12 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. One example is the global supplier structure, in which German companies are also involved, including Rheinmetall in Weeze, which produces center fuselage sections for the F-35.

Given the large number of F-35 aircraft expected in Europe in the near future, it is only logical that European operator nations are building up their own capacities—for example to make personnel training more independent and more tailored to operations in Europe (e.g. in accordance with EMAR – European Military Airworthiness Requirements). Numerous initiatives are already underway, and more will follow. The large number of operator nations also enables individual countries within the program to cooperate, initiate their own projects, and benefit from economies of scale. In this respect, the F-35 acts as a catalyst for cooperative projects under the umbrella of the overall program. For example, Norway drove the development and integration of the Joint Strike Missile (JSM) for the F-35, which is now also being procured by Germany. In addition, through a government-to-government agreement with Denmark, the Luftwaffe will receive a container-based deployment kit.

These are all ideal prerequisites for implementing the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept within NATO—that is, the ability to employ air power both from home bases and from airfields of other nations or dispersed locations. The fact that 14 NATO nations are procuring the F-35 enables a high degree of standardisation in equipment and training within the Alliance. At the same time, fourth-generation fighter aircraft such as the Eurofighter must also be integrated and the highest possible level of interoperability must be achieved in order to exploit the strengths of both generations of fighter aircraft and create a powerful mix of platforms. With the complementary capabilities of both systems, the Luftwaffe is well prepared for the future and will continue to make an important contribution to credible alliance capabilities and deterrence.

Thomas Kullrich
Colonel (GS) Thomas Kullrich is advisor of the Air Chief for the F-35A Weapon System (Bea InspL WaSys F-35A), Air Force Command.

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