• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Europe
  4. Germany to acquire 35 F-35s from US amid Ukraine crisis
Europe

Germany to acquire 35 F-35s from US amid Ukraine crisis

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 14 Mar 2022 19:36
  • 3 Shares

Germany is seeking an upgrade for its fleet of Tornadoes that have been in service for about four decades, and it is heading to the US to fulfill its demands, sparking French concerns.

  • Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets
    Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets

Germany will acquire 35 Lockheed Martin F-35s from the United States to upgrade its aging Tornado fleet, Berlin revealed Monday, marking the first defense deal for the country since Chancellor Olaf Scholz's promise to spend some 100 billion euros on upgrading Germany's defensive capabilities in response to the Russian special military operation in Ukraine.

Germany's security policy has been shifting rapidly, with Berlin pledging to reach NATO's 2% target for defense spending.

"After looking thoroughly into all available options, I decided to initiate the purchase of F-35 aircraft as replacement for the Tornado in the role of nuclear sharing," Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said in a statement Monday.

The Tornado has been in service since the 1980s, and it is the only German jet capable of carrying US-made nuclear bombs Washington has been storing in Germany in case of a conflict.

  • A German Tornado fighter jet
    A German Tornado fighter jet

In a bid to further upgrade its capabilities in the sky, Berlin will also acquire 15 Eurofighter jets equipped for electronic warfare, a technology pending development by Airbus, the joint venture between France and Germany, a confidential document sent to lawmakers to inform them of government plans said.

The German decision to purchase the American aircraft could be bothersome for France, as Paris has been keeping an eye on Germany's consideration of acquiring the F-18 or the more advanced F-35. The French concern stems from Paris fearing that Berlin collaborating with other nations on such matters could undermine their venture of manufacturing French-German fighter jets that were supposed to be on the market in more than two decades.

In an effort to assure Prais, Berlin's defense reiterated Scholz, stressing that Germany still supported the joint venture with France to get jointly made fighters in the air.

  • United States
  • Europe
  • Olaf Scholz
  • Russia
  • Germany
  • lockheed martin
  • France
  • Ukraine
  • F-35
  • European Union
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Trending Now

All
France to send heavy artillery to Ukraine

France to send heavy artillery to Ukraine

Most Read

The Middle East Stabilises, Against the Backdrop of a Great Unravelling

The Middle East Stabilises, Against the Backdrop of a Great Unravelling

  • Analysis
  • 28 May
In this image released by the Italian firefighters, a helicopter searches for missing passengers after a tourist boat capsized in a storm on Italy's Lago Maggiore in the northern Lombardy region, May 28, 2023 (AP)

Top Israeli intelligence official dead in Italy: Israeli media

  • Europe
  • 29 May
US linguist Noam Chomsky, who was among 550 academics who signed the petition calling on Glasgow University to respect free speech (AFP)

Chomsky: EU will deindustrialize if it abides by US-run world order

  • Europe
  • 31 May
Saudi Arabia's Hawiyah Natural Gas Liquids Recovery Plant which is operated by ARAMCO. (AP)

Tensions between Riyadh and Moscow on the rise due to oil prices: WSJ

  • MENA
  • 28 May

Read this

All
Iran, regional countries maritime coalition in the making: Navy chief
MENA

Iran, regional countries maritime coalition in the making: Navy chief

  • Today
The national flags of China, South Africa, India, Russia, and Brazil are put up ahead of a group photo of the participants in the BRICS summit, Xiamen, China, September 4 2017. (Reuters)
Asia

New BRICS currency set to revolutionize world economy: The Post

  • Today
EU
Europe

EU plan to boost ammo production to cost taxpayers billions: Expert

  • Today
PFAS foam gathers at the the Van Etten Creek dam in Oscoda Township, Michigan. PFAS have been used in an extensive array of consumer and industrial applications. (AP)
US & Canada

Top US chemical firms offer $1.2bln for water contamination lawsuits

  • Today
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS