Germany plans to buy additional 15 F-35 fighter jets, Politico reports
FILE PHOTO: A Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jet performs during the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA on the opening day at Schoenefeld Airport in Berlin, Germany June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt/File photo
BERLIN - Germany plans to buy 15 additional F-35 fighter jets, Politico reported on Friday citing several people familiar with the matter, a move that would increase the country's planned fleet of the U.S.-made jet to 50.
The report comes amid tensions between Germany and France on the joint Franco-German fighter jet FCAS project, after a report earlier this week that France now wants a workshare of 80%.
The German defence ministry did not immediately responded to a request for comment from Reuters.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday that differences remained on the configuration of the project, which has been plagued by delays and infighting over workshare and intellectual property rights.
Should France stick to its demand, the resulting differences among project partners would make it unlikely that the project could enter its next phase as scheduled by the end of this year, an industry source told Reuters. REUTERS
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