Pistorius receives the first F-35A jet for the German Armed Forces in Texas

In Texas, Federal Defense Minister Pistorius has taken over the first of 35 F-35A fighter jets. The aircraft are difficult to locate by the enemy's radar. Pistorius spoke of a "new era for the air force". German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) has taken delivery of the first F-35A fighter jet for the German Air Force in the US state of Texas.

After the handover at the company headquarters in Fort Worth, the arms company Lockheed Martin declared that this was a "milestone for Germany" as well as for NATO as a whole. Pistorius spoke of a "new era for the air force". "The new F-35A fighter jet is the most modern fighter aircraft in the world," Pistorius said, according to the statement. Among other things, it is characterized by its stealth capabilities and its extraordinarily powerful sensor technology.

"The F-35A can collect large amounts of data and quickly assemble it into a complete situational picture," Pistorius said in an earlier statement. Cooperation with 19 other nations opens up many opportunities for training, practice and deployment "and makes us stronger together". Difficult to detect from the radar The purchase of a total of 35 copies of the F-35A jet for ten billion euros had been approved by the Budget Committee of the Bundestag in December 2022. The aircraft is intended to replace the outdated tornado fleet and then contribute an important part to deterrence.

Because it is mainly bought for the so-called nuclear participation of Germany - a deterrent concept of NATO, in which allies have access to US nuclear bombs. Due to a special shape and exterior coating, the machine is difficult to detect for enemy radar. Stationed in Rhineland-Palatinate The first eight F-35A fighter jets for the German Air Force will initially remain in the USA, where German pilots and technicians will be trained on them. From 2027, the first machines will be stationed at the Büchel air base in the Eifel in Rhineland-Palatinate.

To kick off his trip, Pistorius had signed an arms agreement with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at Washington on Tuesday. Pistorius' visit also takes place against the backdrop of the review of the US troop presence in Europe announced by Hegseth in June.