Germany receives first F-35 fighter jet, Pistorius hails milestone for Bundeswehr

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius accepted the first F-35 fighter jet in Texas, marking a key step in Germany's military modernization. The delivery follows Germany's 2022 decision to purchase F-35s to replace aging Tornado aircraft, including for nuclear-sharing roles. This strengthens NATO interoperability but raises questions about delivery timelines and integration costs.