Germany’s F-35A Lightning II procurement program has reached another major milestone. The first F-35A being built for the German Air Force has now entered the final assembly phase at Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Fort Worth, Texas. This development highlights tangible progress in Berlin’s efforts to field a fifth-generation combat aircraft capability, while also showing that the program continues to move forward in line with its projected schedule.

During the manufacturing process, the aircraft’s four major structural sections — the wing assembly, forward fuselage, center fuselage and aft fuselage — were brought together before the jet was moved onto the final assembly line on its landing gear for the first time. According to the report, this joining process was carried out using an electronic mate and alignment system supported by advanced laser-guided fixtures. This means the aircraft has successfully advanced into the next stage of production in accordance with the platform’s strict manufacturing requirements. At the final assembly stage, the aircraft will receive its engine, control surfaces and the remaining onboard systems needed to complete integration.

The program is not limited to a single aircraft. This jet is one of the first eight F-35As currently in production for Germany at the Fort Worth facility, making it the leading aircraft of a broader delivery batch. It was also reported that major assembly work for Germany’s F-35 fleet began in December 2024 at the Marietta facility in Georgia. Following final assembly, the aircraft will undergo painting, low-observable coating applications and final inspections before being prepared for its maiden flight. An official delivery ceremony is expected after these key steps are completed.

Germany’s overall F-35A program consists of 35 aircraft. The first eight jets are expected to be delivered to Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where pilot training activities will be carried out. This approach shows that Germany is not merely acquiring a new combat aircraft, but is also building a phased transition plan covering training, operational integration and personnel readiness. Once the F-35A enters German service, the country’s air power capacity within NATO missions is expected to increase significantly, particularly in terms of low observability, survivability and network-enabled combat operations.