Germany orders 15 more F-35 fighters from the US.

Germany orders 15 more F-35 fighters from the US.

German magazine Der Spiegel, citing confidential documents provided to the German parliament’s budget committee, reported that Boris Pistorius plans to order 15 more F-35s from the US company Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the fighter jets.

The additional purchase is on the military project list, according to the report, and planners have estimated a budget of 2.5 billion euros ($2.92 billion) for the new planes.

Reuters reported that Germany has already ordered 35 of the US-made fighters to replace 85 aging Tornado fighters that are due to be retired.

Berlin rejected plans to buy another 15 F-35s in July, but since then, defense spending has increased significantly, providing more room for arms purchases.

At the time, a military source told Reuters that the idea of ​​buying 15 more F-35 jets had been part of previous talks.

According to the report, any decision to buy more F-35s could create new tensions between Germany and France, who are at odds over their fighter jet project, known as the FCAS.

Germany’s need for more fighters is likely to increase, military sources said, given NATO’s new goals for increasing its defense capabilities.