Another step toward 5th Gen air power for the Luftwaffe.

Lockheed ^ | 07/17/2026 | Lockheed

[Red6]

After completing final assembly, the aircraft recently made its way to Aircraft Final Finishes, where it will receive its paint and finishes, including the stealth coating that helps reduce its radar signature.

---

TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Germany; US: Texas; War
KEYWORDS: f35; fighter; jsf; military

[Red6]

Iran has been working on their IADS for years, tailoring it specifically for us, throwing large sums of money at it, and getting some help by both China and Russia.

The F35 has performed awesome.

Even the one that did get hit, made it back: https://www.airandspaceforces.com/usaf-pilot-shrapnel-wounds-f-35-hit-iran/

He does a good job dispelling some of negative news of the past, at minute 20 he begins explaining why the F35 can take damage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_1LyUAOI4Q

The US is in many enabling technologies in pole position (specifically for military aircraft), albeit China is trying their best to narrow that advantage: stealth, radar, avionics, AI and computing, ECM and sensors, likely even power-plants for jets like this (P&W and GE).

The F35 is IMHO an ugly jet. It's not even memorably ugly like a Warthog. It looks like the short fat kid that wants to play basketball. However, what it lacks in "form" it seems to more than make up with in "function," and it's the latter which matters.

I think the German Luftwaffe is getting a capable platform.

[Blueflag]

I like that - the fat kid who hits nothing but net from anywhere on the court ;-)

Now, in fairness, contrast the F-35 with this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_F-47#/media/File:F-47-artist-rendition_(cropped).jpg

[ansel12]

As the son of a WWII vet who was attacked by Luftwaffe aircraft, I won’t ever get over the kick of parachuting out of Luftwaffe aircraft.

[voicereason]

Good. Now that Germany is building up their capabilities, perhaps we can draw down the U.S. presence in the European theatre.

[Decombobulator]

I thought there was a pan-European effort to develop their own 5th gen stealth jet. Maybe the F-35 is a stop gap until it’s ready.

[real saxophonist]

The Mover and Gonky Show is hosted by a couple of former fighter pilots.

Mover calls the F-35 "Fat Amy."

[Leaning Right]

I hope the Luftwaffe will get a more competent Reich Marshal this time.

[jmacusa]

“Ve vill learn to fly ze vay ve do everything in ze the German Army- By ze book!’’ Gert Frobe, “Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines’’.

[Blueflag]

LOL. funny cuz it’s true.

[adorno]

China is trying their best to narrow that advantage: stealth, radar, avionics, AI and computing, ECM and sensors, likely even power-plants for jets like this (P&W and GE).

The Chinese have a much easier time getting their air force to match that of the U.S.: they copy everything the U.S. does. The U.S. is the research and development department for the Chinese.

But, even while copying our stuff, that stuff fails to perform as our original stuff.

[real saxophonist]

And, they have pilots named Wang Wei.

[adorno]

The F-22 Raptor is even more stealthy than the F-35. No country other than the U.S. is allowed to purchase one or to get it’s hands on the F-22 tech. It’s exclusive to the U.S.