Politico: Germany plans to purchase 15 more F-35 fighter jets

On July 11, Jin10 data reported that Germany plans to purchase 15 additional F-35 fighter jets, according to multiple sources cited by Politico on Friday. This move will bring the total number of American-made aircraft that the country plans to possess to 50. The announcement comes amid tensions between Germany and France regarding the joint Franco-German fighter jet FCAS cooperation project. Earlier reports indicated that the French side now demands an 80% share of the work. An industry insider revealed that this demand would break the previously agreed-upon task allocation and could prevent the project from entering the next phase. It is reported that Germany’s additional order also aligns with a new agreement among NATO allies—to raise the collective defense spending target to 5% of GDP over the next decade, aimed at addressing the long-term threat posed by Russia and strengthening civil and military resilience.