Germany asks U.S. for classified briefing on Lockheed's F-35 fighter

[jpak]

Source: Reuters

The German Air Force this month sent the U.S. military a written request for classified data on the Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-35 fighter jet as it gears up to replace its current fleet of fighter jets from 2025 to 2035.

The letter, sent by the Air Force's planning command and seen by Reuters, makes clear that the German government has not yet authorized a procurement program and is not committed to any particular aircraft to replace its current warplanes.

It said the defense ministry would carry out "an in-depth evaluation of market available solutions, including the F-35, later this year," with a formal "letter of request" to be issued in coming months.

Germany's interest in the F-35 - the Pentagon's most advanced warplane and its costliest procurement program - may surprise some given that it is part of the four-nation consortium that developed the fourth-generation Eurofighter Typhoon, which continues to compete for new orders.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-lockheed-fighter-germany-exclusive-idUSKCN18D13X

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Aw shucks! All Germany has to do is to bring a bag of pretzles and some Diet Coke to the

Oval Office, tell Trump what a great job he's doing, and they'll get that information in no time.

[mwooldri]

2. I wonder if it is so Germany can say it's spending X% GDP...

... on defence, as us required by NATO? Easy way to do it I suppose... buy some overpriced military hardware...