Lockheed Awarded $13.4M to Integrate Germany into F-35 Program

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Lockheed Martin a $13.4 million contract modification to support Germany’s integration into the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, reinforcing Berlin’s commitment to acquiring the stealth aircraft.

According to the Pentagon, the modification funds program management, training, and unique requirements for Germany as a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customer. The work will be carried out across multiple U.S. locations, the United Kingdom, and Germany, with completion expected by August 2026.

This development comes amid previous concerns that Germany might reconsider its F-35 purchase due to reports of a potential Pentagon-controlled ‘kill switch’ that could disable the aircraft if Berlin acted against U.S. foreign policy. The U.S. has denied such claims, and the new contract suggests that Germany’s participation remains on track.

Germany has ordered 35 F-35A fighter jets to replace its aging Panavia Tornado fleet, which is scheduled for retirement by 2030.

Germany’s defense industry is benefiting from its F-35 supply chain role, with Rheinmetall and Northrop Grumman preparing for full-scale center fuselage production near Wiesbaden Airport by April 2025. Since January, U.S. trucks have delivered equipment, and personnel training began in mid-2024. Rheinmetall secured key contracts after Turkey’s removal from the program. In December 2024, Germany’s first F-35A, MG-01, entered production in the U.S.