A high-ranking inspector in the German Air Force has expressed openness to acquiring additional F-35 jets from the United States after the collapse of the Franco-German FCAS fighter aircraft project. According to Lieutenant General Holger Neumann speaking to Handelsblatt, a gap will emerge between the delivery of the final Eurofighter in 2035 and the availability of any future European fighter aircraft, and this gap must be bridged.
The most senior officer in the Luftwaffe stated that he has requested the Ministry of Defence to procure specialized weapons systems only from fifth-generation platforms starting in 2035. Failure to adopt such technology risks hitting operational limits, citing the Eurofighter’s lack of stealth capabilities as an example. Future fighter jets must possess these stealth characteristics and be capable of interacting with uncrewed systems and accessing shared data spaces-features that the F-35 currently meets most effectively.
Neumann also pointed out that the jet produced by Lockheed Martin could assist Germany in developing deep-strike capabilities. He stated that the F-35 “is inherently a deep-strike capability.” Due to its stealth features, it is difficult to detect via reconnaissance and, combined with its own range and the use of stand-off weapons, it can effectively strike deep within enemy territory.
