China im Besitz der Bauteile?: USA vermissen Frachtsendung mit geheimer F-35-Technologie

Germany's federal defense minister, Boris Pistorius, attended a ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas, where he accepted the first F-35 stealth fighter jet destined for the German Air Force. The event took place on Friday morning and featured performances by the Houston Singers' Union, which sang both the German and American national anthems. Following the performance, a black curtain fell behind the stage, revealing the first F-35 aircraft to be delivered to Germany. During his speech, Pistorius thanked the audience with the phrase, "Thank you for the goose bumps," while turning several times to inspect the new aircraft. The handover of the first F-35 holds symbolic significance, especially given the current geopolitical climate. Germany aims to demonstrate "credible alliance capability" by acquiring these jets, which are intended for nuclear participation within NATO. This involves hosting U.S. nuclear weapons on German soil and being able to deliver them in case of an emergency. Currently, Tornado jets fulfill this role, but the F-35 will replace them. The delivery occurs at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump frequently challenges traditional allies and questions the relevance of NATO itself. Richard Aboulafia from the consulting firm Aerodynamic Advisory described Trump's policies as a "demolition tool" for the American arms industry. Despite this, efforts were made during the ceremony to maintain a harmonious tone. Dan Zimmerman from the U.S. Department of Defense praised Germany as a "model ally," and Pistorius referred to the F-35 as a "living proof of the strength of transatlantic partnership." Pistorius emphasized the importance of strengthening collective deterrence and defense against Russia, stating that the threat posed by Russia has taken on a new dimension. He highlighted that Germany increased its defense spending significantly last year. Additionally, Pistorius noted the intent declaration for closer arms cooperation signed with his U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth, as a sign of mutual trust. Meanwhile, concerns arose regarding the potential loss of sensitive F-35 technology to China. According to reports from Politico, a shipment containing critical parts of the F-35, including the canopy with stealth technology, was rerouted to Hong Kong from Australia. The load was supposed to be sent to the United States for repair purposes. However, the shipment was redirected to Hong Kong, and its whereabouts remain unknown. The U.S. Congress has initiated an investigation into the incident. Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the F-35, stated that it adheres strictly to all rules set by the U.S. Department of Defense regarding the transportation of aircraft parts. The company emphasized that its teams handle each shipment with utmost care and under strict security measures to ensure the safety of the F-35 program and allied nations. The Pentagon's central project office for the F-35 (JPO) confirmed awareness of an issue involving non-operational F-35 components and is collaborating with U.S. authorities and industry partners to recover the components, investigate the incident, and implement safeguards to prevent such occurrences in the future. Militarily, the F-35 is considered the world's most advanced combat aircraft, capable of flying at 1.6 times the speed of sound and carrying more than eight tons of weapons, including nuclear weapons. Its stealth capabilities make it difficult to detect using radar systems. The aircraft features infrared cameras on its exterior that capture images of the surroundings during flight and transmit them directly to the pilot's helmet, providing a 360-degree view. Despite the high costs associated with acquisition and maintenance, the F-35 has attracted interest from numerous countries beyond the United States. According to Lockheed Martin, 19 countries have ordered the aircraft, including the United Kingdom, Israel, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. Germany plans to acquire up to 35 units to replace its aging Tornado jets.