F-35s Partly Made in Germany
On December 15, the German Bundestag approved the purchase of 35 F-35 fighter jets from the United States at a cost of almost €10 billion (us$10.6 billion). To facilitate this colossal project, the U.S. asked German defense contractor Rheinmetall to participate in the construction of the stealth fighter jet.
Lockheed Martin has been a committed partner to Germany for more than 50 years. The F-35 program will continue to strengthen our strategic partnership with key industry partners for years to come. The F-35 center fuselage production in Germany will be vital to meet the growing global demand for F-35s, which play a vital role in 21st Century Security.
—Mike Shoemaker, Lockheed vice president of F-35 customer programs
Rheinmetall signed a letter of intent with the U.S. consortium of Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to build mid-fuselage components for the stealth jet. The collaboration with the U.S. would include the establishment of an integrated assembly line for F-35 fuselage components in Germany, Rheinmetall said. Lockheed’s website noted on February 17 that the project is “expanding the significant role European industry plays in the F-35 program. … German industry has contributed to the F-35 program since its inception in 2001.”
The long-standing partnership between Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall, as well as the very close ties that have existed for decades between the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) and our company, lead to a genuine transfer of know-how to Germany as an industrial location. Furthermore, this setup makes a significant contribution to minimizing risk by bringing in national partners that are involved in a tried-and-tested manner.
—Armin Papperger, ceo of Rheinmetall AG
Built for nukes: The main reason Germany is purchasing the aircraft is due to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s nuclear-sharing agreement. The F-35s are specifically built to be able to carry U.S. nukes stationed in Germany and are planned to replace the aging German Tornados.
America is giving Germany access to its most-advanced and deadliest weapons. The crucial question is, does the United States really have control over those bombs?
—Gerald Flurry, Trumpet editor in chief
A prophetic warning: In “America Trusts Germany With Stealth Nuclear Fighters,” Mr. Flurry explained:
In the Bible, God condemns America and Britain (and the other modern descendants of ancient Israel) for forsaking Him and for doting on their “lovers.” And today, what do we find ourselves doing? Arming two warlike nations, our historical enemies, with nuclear firepower! This is an appallingly dangerous mistake!
In the end-time book of Ezekiel, God says, “And Aholah [speaking of the modern nations of Israel] played the harlot when she was mine; and she doted on her lovers, on the Assyrians her neighbours …. Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted” (Ezekiel 23:5, 9). This whole chapter concerns Israel, here called Aholah, and the Jews, called Aholibah, setting themselves up for one of the most shocking betrayals in history!
Read Mr. Flurry’s book Ezekiel—The End-Time Prophet to learn more.
