Lockheed expects to deliver F-35 to Germany from 2026, sees more orders in Europe

• Germany plans to buy up to 35 F-35s to replace a portion of its aging Panavia Tornado fleet by 2025 and 2030 in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine war

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) on Wednesday said it could deliver its first F-35As fighter jets to Germany in 2026 if government deals can be signed off promptly as the country continues a rapid acquisition process.

“You’ll hear more about it soon,” J.R. McDonald, the vice president of F-35 business development at the US defence company, told journalists at a news conference at the ILA Berlin Air Show trade fair.

In March, Germany announced that it was planning to buy up to 35 of the world’s most advanced fighter jets — F-35s to replace a portion of its aging Panavia Tornado fleet by 2025 and 2030 in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and submitted a letter of request to the US government four days later.