The German government will not abandon the purchase of F-35A fighter jets due to the lack of modern alternatives for the role of a nuclear weapons carrier.

This was stated by Defense Ministry spokesman Mitko Mueller.

Asked whether Germany plans to continue purchasing US F-35A fighter jets amid the unpredictable policies of the new administration, he said the country would keep the contract.

He also added that there were no plans to discuss the possibility of abandoning those aircraft either that day or the day after.

“No crisis meeting is planned, neither today nor in the future. We are keeping this project alive,” said Mitko Mueller, a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense.

It should be noted that today there are no direct alternatives to the American F-35 fighter jet. Most of the proposals produced in Europe are fourth-generation aircraft with significantly limited functionality.

In addition, only one European aircraft can be used as a carrier of B61 nuclear bombs – the Panavia Tornado fighter-bomber, which Germany plans to completely retire by 2030 and replace with F-35As certified to use nuclear warheads of this type.

Also, due to the commercial success of the F-35 program, Germany will produce centerplanes for these aircraft, as well as other components at Rheinmetall, in addition to purchasing them.

Production is planned to be organized in the city of Veze at AERO-Bildungs GmbH.

Earlier, Militarnyi reported that on December 6, 2024, the United States had begun construction of the first fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II fighter jet for the German Air Force.

The first F-35A multirole fighter for Germany received the MG-01 serial number.

According to the plan, in 2026, the first German F-35s will be deployed at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas. German technicians and pilots will be trained there.

Germany has ordered a total of 35 fifth-generation Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighters.