DefenseThe first Lockheed Martin F-35A destined for the German Air Force has entered final assembly at the company’s Fort Worth, Texas production facility, as Berlin prepares to introduce the fifth-generation fighter into service.
The aircraft, designated MG-01, has progressed along the main production line after its primary structural sections were joined. These include the forward, center and aft fuselage, along with the wing assemblies, which are aligned using laser-guided systems before the airframe is able to support its own weight on landing gear.
With that phase complete, the jet has been transferred to final assembly, where it will receive its Pratt & Whitney F135 engine, control surfaces, cockpit canopy and onboard systems. The aircraft will later undergo painting and application of its radar-absorbing stealth coating ahead of rollout and first flight.
Lockheed Martin says eight German F-35As are currently in various stages of production at Fort Worth. Work on major components for the fleet began in late 2024, with some structural assembly activities also taking place at the company’s Marietta, Georgia site.
Germany has ordered 35 F-35A fighters to replace part of its Tornado fleet and to maintain its role in NATO’s nuclear sharing mission. The aircraft will introduce stealth, sensor fusion and data-sharing capabilities that are not present in the Luftwaffe’s current combat aircraft inventory.
The first eight jets are scheduled to be delivered to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas, where German pilots and maintenance crews will begin training before the type enters service in Europe.
Flight testing of the first German aircraft is expected to begin later this year, as the program advances from production into the operational phase.
