Germany to buy F-35A stealth fighters in astonishing switch

Germany’s astonishing about-face in defence matters has continued, just weeks after pumping €100bn into the country’s defence budget, with the announced intention to acquire the US-manufactured F-35A fifth generation stealth fighter. The financial windfall, announced in late-February amid a furious backlash against Berlin’s apparent lack of commitment to defence duties in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, will see defence spending rise from around 1.5% of GDP at present to more than 2% in the years ahead. The F-35 has