Rheinmetall starts German F-35 fuselage production line to strengthen European role in supply chain
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On July 1, 2025, the German company Rheinmetall completed the construction of a €200 million production facility in Weeze, North Rhine-Westphalia, which will manufacture center fuselage sections for the American F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter. The facility, built in cooperation with Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, is scheduled to begin production in July 2025.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
European countries collectively account for roughly 30% of the F-35 jet’s parts, including key components such as wings, fuselage sections, tail assemblies, radar modules, and weapon pylons. (Picture source: US DoD)
The first fuselage section, consisting of approximately 300,000 individual parts and weighing around two tons, is planned for delivery to the United States in autumn 2026 for integration into the final assembly process. Germany has ordered 35 F-35A aircraft to replace its Tornado fleet, which currently serves as the Bundeswehr’s delivery platform for NATO’s nuclear sharing mission. Deliveries to the German Air Force are expected to begin in 2027. The construction of the Weeze facility was completed in less than eighteen months. It was described by local officials as an example of close transatlantic industrial cooperation and is considered a key node in the global F-35 supply chain.
The new facility spans 60,000 square meters and includes not only the production line operated by Rheinmetall Aviation Services GmbH, but also logistics and warehouse areas, research and testing centers, training classrooms, and quality control units. The plant is designed to produce 30 center fuselage sections annually under normal conditions, with a capacity to increase output to 36 units per year through an additional shift. Rheinmetall has signed a framework agreement with Northrop Grumman to manufacture at least 400 center fuselage sections over a period of 17 to 20 years. Approximately 35 shipments of heavy machinery, each weighing around five tonnes, were delivered from the United States starting in early 2025 to prepare the plant for operation. In April 2024, Rheinmetall launched a training partnership with AERO-Bildungs GmbH to replicate Northrop Grumman’s U.S. training model, ensuring technical readiness and local know-how for the start of production. As of mid-2025, the plant employs 200 people, with the workforce expected to exceed 400 by the end of 2026. The Weeze site is the second F-35 center fuselage Integrated Assembly Line globally, following the original Northrop Grumman line in Palmdale, California.
This development is part of a broader diversification strategy by Rheinmetall, which has traditionally focused on tanks, artillery, ammunition, and air defense systems. In response to increased defense demand following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the company is expanding into aerospace sectors, including drones, satellites, and aviation technologies. Germany’s decision to acquire the F-35A follows its assessment that no European fighter currently offers equivalent operational capabilities, particularly in the context of NATO nuclear sharing. Construction of the first German F-35A, designated MG-01, began in the United States on December 6, 2024. Germany’s Minister of Defense confirmed that there are currently no viable alternatives to the F-35 for fulfilling the country’s specific mission requirements. According to public statements, the Bundeswehr plans to operate the aircraft independently using internal resources and the international spare parts pool in case of limited access to U.S. systems. The German government and defense industry officials have emphasized that the F-35’s supply chain includes European participants and supports national security of supply through regional production nodes.
The F-35 program is supported by a decentralized global supply chain involving over 1,900 suppliers across approximately a dozen countries. In addition to Rheinmetall’s new fuselage plant in Germany, there are two final assembly and check-out (FACO) facilities outside the United States: one in Cameri, Italy, and another in Nagoya, Japan. Cameri, operated by Leonardo in partnership with Lockheed Martin, produced its first Italian-assembled F-35A in 2015 and F-35B in 2018. It serves as Europe’s designated center for maintenance, repair, overhaul, and upgrade (MRO&U) of F-35 airframes, and supports Norwegian and Dutch fleets in addition to Italian jets. Nagoya, operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, assembles aircraft for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Both sites complement Lockheed Martin’s main production line in Fort Worth, Texas, which produces over 150 aircraft per year. Other participating countries include Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Each country contributes through either component manufacturing, assembly, or sustainment infrastructure. European countries are increasingly requesting more assembly and sustainment capabilities within their territories, driven by logistical considerations and domestic political pressure for greater industrial returns on F-35 procurement contracts.
European countries play a substantial role in the production of critical components for the F-35. According to Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Kris Peeters, approximately 30 percent of all F-35 components are produced by European suppliers. The United Kingdom contributes around 15 percent of the value of each aircraft, including the rear fuselage, ejection seat, pilot controls, and the vertical lift fan system for the F-35B variant. BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce are major contributors, with production taking place at facilities in England. Denmark’s Terma has manufactured more than 30,000 parts for the program, including composite and structural parts such as the gun pod for the F-35A, advanced composites for tail sections, radar electronics housing, pylons, and fuselage panels. In the Netherlands, companies like Fokker Technologies (a GKN Aerospace subsidiary) or Thales Netherlands provide power systems, radar components, airframe parts, and other systems, with Woensdrecht Air Base serving as one of three global hubs for F-35 spare part distribution. These parts remain U.S. property until mounted on an aircraft and are pooled internationally for logistics and sustainment. Finland’s Patria is building a new plant in Jämsä to manufacture 400 fuselage sections and landing gear doors between 2026 and 2040, and will also operate a maintenance center for the F135 engine. These contributions ensure continuity of operations during crises and reinforce the strategic autonomy of European F-35 operators.
Belgium, which has ordered 34 F-35A aircraft, has formally requested that additional units be assembled at the Cameri FACO in Italy rather than at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility. The Belgian government has also emphasized the importance of new offset agreements to improve the economic return of the program, which has underperformed original projections. Belgian companies have indeed won some work: Asco manufactures complex titanium flaperon spars for the F-35’s wings, which are delivered to Fokker in the Netherlands for integration into the flaperons; SABCA produces components for the horizontal tail and fuselage longerons, while ILIAS Solutions provides software for fleet management and logistics systems. Therefore, in 2018, the expected industrial return was announced at €3.6 billion, later revised to €4 billion, but by 2022, only €700 million in contracts had materialized. A revised agreement signed in 2024 projects €66 million per year in economic return, totaling €2.7 billion over 40 years. Belgium is considering whether aircraft assembled in Italy could be classified as European production to qualify for EU-approved defense borrowing. The proposal follows a broader EU trend seeking to boost strategic autonomy and defense financing through intra-European industrial cooperation. Other European contributors include Norway and Italy, whose companies supply airframe components, avionics, and electronic systems. This collective network supports both operational readiness and regional employment while integrating European firms into the largest and most complex fighter aircraft production program currently underway.
Outside the European Union, several partner nations contribute essential components to the F-35 supply chain, reinforcing the program’s global production architecture. In Japan, Mitsubishi Electric manufactures key radar components and electronic systems, while Mitsubishi Heavy Industries produces structural elements and handles final assembly and check-out (FACO) of aircraft destined for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. In Australia, BAE Systems Australia supplies titanium bulkheads and produces vertical tail fins for the F-35A variant. Quickstep Holdings, another Australian company, fabricates carbon fiber composite parts such as lower side skins, maintenance access panels, and fairings. In Canada, Magellan Aerospace manufactures horizontal tail assemblies and engine components, including vane boxes, and Héroux-Devtek produces landing gear parts. Canadian firms also contribute to advanced electronic assemblies and power systems. In Israel, Elbit Systems produces the panoramic cockpit display and the helmet-mounted display system (HMDS) jointly with Collins Aerospace, while also supplying components for the cockpit and pilot interface. These production contributions from non-EU countries complement the European and U.S. segments of the F-35 industrial base, enabling distributed manufacturing, supply chain flexibility, and increased resilience in case of geopolitical or logistical disruptions.
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On July 1, 2025, the German company Rheinmetall completed the construction of a €200 million production facility in Weeze, North Rhine-Westphalia, which will manufacture center fuselage sections for the American F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter. The facility, built in cooperation with Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, is scheduled to begin production in July 2025.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
European countries collectively account for roughly 30% of the F-35 jet’s parts, including key components such as wings, fuselage sections, tail assemblies, radar modules, and weapon pylons. (Picture source: US DoD)
The first fuselage section, consisting of approximately 300,000 individual parts and weighing around two tons, is planned for delivery to the United States in autumn 2026 for integration into the final assembly process. Germany has ordered 35 F-35A aircraft to replace its Tornado fleet, which currently serves as the Bundeswehr’s delivery platform for NATO’s nuclear sharing mission. Deliveries to the German Air Force are expected to begin in 2027. The construction of the Weeze facility was completed in less than eighteen months. It was described by local officials as an example of close transatlantic industrial cooperation and is considered a key node in the global F-35 supply chain.
The new facility spans 60,000 square meters and includes not only the production line operated by Rheinmetall Aviation Services GmbH, but also logistics and warehouse areas, research and testing centers, training classrooms, and quality control units. The plant is designed to produce 30 center fuselage sections annually under normal conditions, with a capacity to increase output to 36 units per year through an additional shift. Rheinmetall has signed a framework agreement with Northrop Grumman to manufacture at least 400 center fuselage sections over a period of 17 to 20 years. Approximately 35 shipments of heavy machinery, each weighing around five tonnes, were delivered from the United States starting in early 2025 to prepare the plant for operation. In April 2024, Rheinmetall launched a training partnership with AERO-Bildungs GmbH to replicate Northrop Grumman’s U.S. training model, ensuring technical readiness and local know-how for the start of production. As of mid-2025, the plant employs 200 people, with the workforce expected to exceed 400 by the end of 2026. The Weeze site is the second F-35 center fuselage Integrated Assembly Line globally, following the original Northrop Grumman line in Palmdale, California.
This development is part of a broader diversification strategy by Rheinmetall, which has traditionally focused on tanks, artillery, ammunition, and air defense systems. In response to increased defense demand following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the company is expanding into aerospace sectors, including drones, satellites, and aviation technologies. Germany’s decision to acquire the F-35A follows its assessment that no European fighter currently offers equivalent operational capabilities, particularly in the context of NATO nuclear sharing. Construction of the first German F-35A, designated MG-01, began in the United States on December 6, 2024. Germany’s Minister of Defense confirmed that there are currently no viable alternatives to the F-35 for fulfilling the country’s specific mission requirements. According to public statements, the Bundeswehr plans to operate the aircraft independently using internal resources and the international spare parts pool in case of limited access to U.S. systems. The German government and defense industry officials have emphasized that the F-35’s supply chain includes European participants and supports national security of supply through regional production nodes.
The F-35 program is supported by a decentralized global supply chain involving over 1,900 suppliers across approximately a dozen countries. In addition to Rheinmetall’s new fuselage plant in Germany, there are two final assembly and check-out (FACO) facilities outside the United States: one in Cameri, Italy, and another in Nagoya, Japan. Cameri, operated by Leonardo in partnership with Lockheed Martin, produced its first Italian-assembled F-35A in 2015 and F-35B in 2018. It serves as Europe’s designated center for maintenance, repair, overhaul, and upgrade (MRO&U) of F-35 airframes, and supports Norwegian and Dutch fleets in addition to Italian jets. Nagoya, operated by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, assembles aircraft for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Both sites complement Lockheed Martin’s main production line in Fort Worth, Texas, which produces over 150 aircraft per year. Other participating countries include Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Each country contributes through either component manufacturing, assembly, or sustainment infrastructure. European countries are increasingly requesting more assembly and sustainment capabilities within their territories, driven by logistical considerations and domestic political pressure for greater industrial returns on F-35 procurement contracts.
European countries play a substantial role in the production of critical components for the F-35. According to Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Kris Peeters, approximately 30 percent of all F-35 components are produced by European suppliers. The United Kingdom contributes around 15 percent of the value of each aircraft, including the rear fuselage, ejection seat, pilot controls, and the vertical lift fan system for the F-35B variant. BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce are major contributors, with production taking place at facilities in England. Denmark’s Terma has manufactured more than 30,000 parts for the program, including composite and structural parts such as the gun pod for the F-35A, advanced composites for tail sections, radar electronics housing, pylons, and fuselage panels. In the Netherlands, companies like Fokker Technologies (a GKN Aerospace subsidiary) or Thales Netherlands provide power systems, radar components, airframe parts, and other systems, with Woensdrecht Air Base serving as one of three global hubs for F-35 spare part distribution. These parts remain U.S. property until mounted on an aircraft and are pooled internationally for logistics and sustainment. Finland’s Patria is building a new plant in Jämsä to manufacture 400 fuselage sections and landing gear doors between 2026 and 2040, and will also operate a maintenance center for the F135 engine. These contributions ensure continuity of operations during crises and reinforce the strategic autonomy of European F-35 operators.
Belgium, which has ordered 34 F-35A aircraft, has formally requested that additional units be assembled at the Cameri FACO in Italy rather than at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility. The Belgian government has also emphasized the importance of new offset agreements to improve the economic return of the program, which has underperformed original projections. Belgian companies have indeed won some work: Asco manufactures complex titanium flaperon spars for the F-35’s wings, which are delivered to Fokker in the Netherlands for integration into the flaperons; SABCA produces components for the horizontal tail and fuselage longerons, while ILIAS Solutions provides software for fleet management and logistics systems. Therefore, in 2018, the expected industrial return was announced at €3.6 billion, later revised to €4 billion, but by 2022, only €700 million in contracts had materialized. A revised agreement signed in 2024 projects €66 million per year in economic return, totaling €2.7 billion over 40 years. Belgium is considering whether aircraft assembled in Italy could be classified as European production to qualify for EU-approved defense borrowing. The proposal follows a broader EU trend seeking to boost strategic autonomy and defense financing through intra-European industrial cooperation. Other European contributors include Norway and Italy, whose companies supply airframe components, avionics, and electronic systems. This collective network supports both operational readiness and regional employment while integrating European firms into the largest and most complex fighter aircraft production program currently underway.
Outside the European Union, several partner nations contribute essential components to the F-35 supply chain, reinforcing the program’s global production architecture. In Japan, Mitsubishi Electric manufactures key radar components and electronic systems, while Mitsubishi Heavy Industries produces structural elements and handles final assembly and check-out (FACO) of aircraft destined for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. In Australia, BAE Systems Australia supplies titanium bulkheads and produces vertical tail fins for the F-35A variant. Quickstep Holdings, another Australian company, fabricates carbon fiber composite parts such as lower side skins, maintenance access panels, and fairings. In Canada, Magellan Aerospace manufactures horizontal tail assemblies and engine components, including vane boxes, and Héroux-Devtek produces landing gear parts. Canadian firms also contribute to advanced electronic assemblies and power systems. In Israel, Elbit Systems produces the panoramic cockpit display and the helmet-mounted display system (HMDS) jointly with Collins Aerospace, while also supplying components for the cockpit and pilot interface. These production contributions from non-EU countries complement the European and U.S. segments of the F-35 industrial base, enabling distributed manufacturing, supply chain flexibility, and increased resilience in case of geopolitical or logistical disruptions.
