German defense manufacturer Rheinmetall has started assembling equipment for the production of center fuselage sections for F-35A Lightning II fighter jets, the company announced in a social media post.

According to the company, production is set to launch in July 2025

Since January, heavy cargo shipments from the United States have been arriving at the AERO-Bildungs GmbH plant near Weeze Airport, delivering the necessary equipment.

In 2023, Northrop Grumman awarded Rheinmetall a contract to manufacture more than 400 center fuselage sections.

In Weeze, Rheinmetall will in future manufacture at least 400 center fuselage sections for the world’s most advanced fighter jet, the F-35.

Production is scheduled to begin in July 2025. Since January, heavy haulage transports from the USA have been arriving at the new plant… pic.twitter.com/8mf3fSIyrZ

— Rheinmetall (@RheinmetallAG) March 24, 2025

By July 2024, the company had already started training personnel for the new production line.

F-35A for Germany

The German government recently confirmed that it will proceed with its F-35A acquisition, citing the lack of modern alternatives for the nuclear strike role.

Currently, 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.

Currently, no European-built fighter jet is certified to carry B61 nuclear bombs, except the aging Panavia Tornado, which Germany plans to retire by 2030. The F-35A is the only fifth-generation aircraft available to fulfill this mission.

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

The first F-35A multi-role fighter for Germany was designated MG-01.