Germany’s first Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II completed its maiden flight on September 8, ahead of the aircraft’s formal presentation later this month.
The aircraft, identified as MG-01 and carrying the German military serial 35+01, flew from Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas. Images of the flight show the aircraft already wearing its Luftwaffe markings.
The first flight took place ten days before an official rollout ceremony scheduled for September 18. Lockheed Martin had previously shown the aircraft progressing through final assembly and, in August, entering the Aircraft Final Finishes stage for painting and application of its low-observable surface coatings.
MG-01 is the first of 35 F-35As ordered by Germany to partially replace the Panavia Tornado, a variable-sweep-wing combat aircraft that entered German service in 1981. Germany selected the fighter in 2022, with the procurement also ensuring continuity of the country’s role in NATO’s nuclear-sharing arrangements.
Training begins in United States
The first eight German F-35As will initially remain in the United States, where they will support training of Luftwaffe pilots and maintenance personnel at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas.
MG-01 carries the markings of the German Air Force Tactical Training Command USA on its tails, reflecting its initial assignment to the training operation in the United States.
The first aircraft destined for operations from Germany are expected to arrive at Büchel Air Base in 2027. The base is home to Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 33, or Tactical Air Wing 33, which currently operates the Tornado IDS.
Büchel is undergoing infrastructure work to accommodate the new fighter. The F-35A will eventually assume the Tornado’s nuclear-sharing role, for which the German aircraft will be able to employ the B61-12 nuclear gravity bomb.
Tornado replacement
Germany’s decision to acquire the F-35A was driven in part by the need to replace the Tornado in the nuclear mission as the veteran aircraft approaches retirement.
The Luftwaffe has operated the Tornado since the 1980s in strike, reconnaissance and electronic combat roles. The F-35A will take over the nuclear mission, while Germany is also expanding its Eurofighter fleet for other roles currently performed by the Tornado.
Production of the first German F-35A reached final assembly at Fort Worth earlier this year. By March, Lockheed Martin said eight aircraft for Germany were simultaneously progressing through different stages of production.
