Lockheed Martin says Germany’s first F-35A has completed its maiden flight ahead of planned delivery and Luftwaffe training in the United States

Germany's first F-35A completed its maiden flight, marking the start of flight testing before planned delivery and Luftwaffe training in the United States. Berlin is acquiring 35 aircraft to replace part of the Tornado fleet and preserve Germany's role in NATO nuclear sharing. German crews and maintainers will initially train in the United States before the aircraft transition to operations from Germany. A first flight confirms that the individual airframe has entered testing, not that the German fleet has achieved delivery or operational readiness collectively.