US approves sale of 35 F-35 stealth aircraft to Germany in $8.5 billion arms and munition deal

Europe, News, US August 1, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

The U.S. State Department has approved a potential arms sale worth $8.5 billion dollars for Germany. The deal includes the sale of 35 F-35 fifth generation fighter jets, 105 AIM-102C-8 missiles, and 75 AGM-158B/B2 winged missiles.

The arms deal was initiated by Germany in March 2022, right after the new German Chancellor Olaf Scholz took the office and pledged to upgrade the county’s defense capabilities in the wake of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale. According to Pentagon officials, after the deal is completely approved by the U.S. administration, American-based defense contractors Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon Technologies would be involved in the development and production process.

Although State Department has approved the sale of the required arms and fighter jets to Germany, the notification still has to go through several other approvals before the contract has been signed or that negotiations have concluded.

Germany announced upgrading its aging fleet of Tornado fighter jets with the American-made F-35 fighter jet. In a move that appeared to be a major shift in Germany’s security and defense policy, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged 100 billion euros for the upgradation of the country’s military capabilities.

Tornado fighter jets in the German aerial fleet are the only jets capable of carrying the U.S.-made nuclear bomb. The German air force has been flying Tornado jets since the 1980s. Berlin had been planning to upgrade its aerial fleet by 2030, however, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the country’s active involvement in NATO’s military operations, Germany has hastened the process to upgrade its military capabilities.

An F-35A Lightning II fires an AMRAAM air-to-air missile off the California coast during a test on Oct. 30, 2014. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Air Force — *^{An F-35A Lightning II fires an AMRAAM air-to-air missile off the California coast during a test. (Image Credit: U.S. Air Force)}*

Germany is also planning to buy at least 37 Pratt and Whitney F135-PW-100 engines, 105 AIM-120C-8 air-to-air attack missiles, and 75 AGM155B/B2 air-to-surface cruise missiles from the United States under the $8.5 billion deal.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has stirred up the European nations’ desire to upgrade their military equipment and most importantly their aerial fleets. Being an economical aircraft and an easily maneuverable fighter jet, F-35 has emerged as the top choice among European nations. Most recently, Greece has sent a request to the U.S. for procurement of at least 20 of the F-35A fighter jets. The Czech Republic also wants to replace its aging fleet of Saab JAS 39 Gripen with the F-35 fighter jets. Similarly, Finland plans to buy 64 F-35 fighter jets in a deal that could be worth about $10 billion while Switzerland plans to buy 36 F-35 jets to replace its fleet of Hornet fighter jets.

The F-35 jets deal for Poland and Belgium has been approved and the two countries are set to receive their lots in the coming years. Poland would receive 32 F-35A jets by 2024 while Belgium would also get its 34 F-35 aircraft.