Germany is negotiating with the United States to buy 15 more Lockheed Martin F-35A fighter jets, people familiar with the talks told Politico. The unannounced purchase would lift Berlin’s planned fleet to 50 aircraft and expand a 2022 deal that covered 35 jets worth $8.4 billion. Officials say the extra aircraft are intended to close a capability gap created by delays in the Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System project. The stalemate over industrial work-share has strained relations with France, prompting Berlin to seek additional U.S.-made planes as an interim solution. Germany’s original F-35s are scheduled for delivery from 2026, with initial operating capability targeted for 2028, replacing the Luftwaffe’s aging Tornado force in NATO’s nuclear-sharing role. The Defence Ministry has declined to comment on the latest talks, which come ahead of meetings between German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth next week.