The discussions about a new F-35 deal mark a notable shift for Berlin, which has publicly championed FCAS as a pillar of European sovereignty.

The German government decided in 2022 to buy 35 U.S.-made F-35s in light of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Internal deliberations to buy eight additional jets, held a year ago, failed to yield a concrete result, according to industry and government people familiar with the matter.

Now, as FCAS appears increasingly strained and Germany needs to bridge an upcoming shortage of aircraft, the option to add 15 more F-35s is being pursued more seriously than past proposals.

The F-35 offers Germany a proven, nuclear-capable platform that would allow it to carry U.S. nuclear bombs stored in Germany as part of NATO’s deterrence strategy, and could be operational by 2027. In contrast, FCAS is still in an early development phase, with a demonstrator flight not expected before 2028 or 2029.

Previously, Friedrich Merz has pushed for increased defense spending and greater European military capabilities, arguing that Europe must reduce its dependence on the United States. | Filip Singer/EPA

Previously, Merz has pushed for increased defense spending and greater European military capabilities, arguing that Europe must reduce its dependence on the United States. “We Europeans must become stronger on our own,” he said at an industry event in Berlin in June, warning that “U.S. tolerance of low European defense spending will not continue.” 

In a televised address earlier this year, he described his “absolute priority” as strengthening Europe so it can “step by step achieve independence from the USA.” But the additional F-35 purchase would signal a pragmatic pivot back toward American hardware — at least in the short term.

A bilateral meeting between Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron later this month in Berlin is expected to address both the FCAS impasse and the broader direction of European defense cooperation.

Meanwhile, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius will meet his U.S. counterpart Pete Hegseth next week. It remains unclear whether the F-35 discussions will be finalized then.

The German Defense Ministry declined to comment.