Lockheed Martin announced that it has delivered the first F-35A Lightning II fighter jet to the German government in Fort Worth.
The German Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius, highly praised the aircraft, calling it 'the most advanced in the world.' The F-35 was developed in the US in cooperation with other NATO members, and its design and coating make it difficult for radars to detect.
Germany placed an order for these units in 2022, against the backdrop of the Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine. The US government is pressuring its European partners to increase defense spending to focus on other issues, particularly those related to China.
As a result of this pressure, several countries, including Germany, have increased their defense budgets with the aim of reaching a level equivalent to five percent of GDP by 2025. Geopolitical tensions intensified after the Israeli-American strike on Iran in February, as well as due to the situation in the Gaza Strip, leading to increased purchases from arms and military equipment manufacturers.
Previously, the US sold the F-35 only to its closest allies, such as European NATO members and Israel. However, on Thursday, the sale of 48 units to Saudi Arabia for $24.3 billion was approved. Lockheed Martin specified that more than 1,350 F-35 aircraft are currently in operation worldwide.