Germany’s Rheinmetall Ready to Build F-35s

In just under a year and a half, arms manufacturer Rheinmetall built the first facility outside the United States to produce the central fuselage of the F-35 Lightning stealth fighter. At the factory’s completion ceremony on July 1 in Weeze, Germany, Rheinmetall ceo Armin Papperger announced that production would begin within a few days, “maybe even tomorrow.”

Nuclear capability: Germany has ordered 35 American F-35s to replace the Bundeswehr’s aging Tornado fighter jets to secure the ability to deploy U.S. nuclear weapons stationed in Germany. To facilitate this project, Rheinmetall entered cooperation with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to build mid-fuselage components for the stealth jet. Rheinmetall expects additional orders from Germany and other European countries.

We aim to produce up to 36 of these core components annually here in Weeze for the most versatile and powerful fighter jet in the world.
—Armin Papperger

Trust: Papperger said the central fuselage is the “most important part of the aircraft” as it houses all the essential technology. The U.S. has not only entrusted Germany with tactical nuclear weapons and the aircraft to deliver them, but also with the production of that aircraft’s most important part. This is a dangerous level of trust in a former World War ii enemy.

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

Learn more: Read “America Trusts Germany With Stealth Nuclear Fighters.”