For decades, US large defensive groups have relied on international allies to increase the sale of many of their weapons. However, the fluttering commitment of Trump’s administration towards the NATO Federation has encouraged several countries to question their reliance on American weapons – which has launched an increasing alarm among some heads in the industry.
“I am worried that pure politics could harm our prospects in future competitions,” said one executive director of the leading American performer.
She put an concern in the center of attention on the F-35 fighter, the most expensive US defense program and the largest generator of individual revenue for the defense group Lockheed Martin. Although Stealth Fighter is the backbone of modern Western air force, some are concerned about whether the US can immobilize weapons with a so -called “kill switch”.
Trump threatened to light tension last week, when he suggested the sale of “toned” jets for allies in the future because “one day, they may not be our allies.” The President referred to a new generation of advanced fighters, known as F-47, who have been launch for years.
What is F-35?
The F-35 is the only world advanced, long-term, hidden fighter. Its disguised technology makes it difficult for hostile radar or infrared aircraft monitoring sensors, while its built -in “Sensory Apartment” provides real -time information pilots to find enemy forces, guarantee radars and attack disorder.
The fighter runs the US as well as 19 Allied countries, including some NATO members like Japan. Several countries contribute to the production of aircraft.
The UK is the only one level of first partner On the program, with many British plane components. Bae Systems is a lockheed subcontractor, building a rear torso for all the nozzles. It is also responsible for some of the electronic wars systems.
Other partners include Italy and Japan. Key partners’ airline industries are built into the program, while many are of [their air forces] They are already operating an aircraft, ”said Robert Stallard, an analyst from Vertical Research Partners.
Why are governments concerned?
Although the joint Pentagon program, he recently denied the existence of a murder switch that could abruptly immobilize the F-35, some governments reconsider their capabilities.
Canada and Portugal recently hinted that they were ready to consider alternatives. Although Lisbon did not officially commit to buying an aircraft, Ottawa planned to buy 88 F-35 from the US and funded the purchase of 16 jets.
Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said in a statement to the Financial Times that they were asked to examine “other alternatives, should all these f-35 fighter jets should be or if there are alternatives”, while emphasizing that the government did not end the aircraft contract.
The second vulnerability of the F-35 lies in relying on processing data on the mission critical for electronic warfare.
“There is addiction to a mission data for a lot of F-35 buyers,” said Justin Bronk, an aviation expert at the Royal United Services Institute in London. While some countries did not rely on the United States, there was a “geopolitical risk” for those who were, he added.
What are the possible alternatives?
There are no direct alternatives of the F-35, but there are other options, from the pane-European typhoon Eurofighter to the French burst.
“Realistically, if you are a F-35 buyer and you want to stay at the top of the ability, then go to Eurofighter Typhoon or Rafale,” said Douglas Barrie, a senior colleague for a military airline at the International Strategic Studies Institute.
Swedish GripenHe added, he was “very capable, but he had one engine” unlike Rafala and Eurofighter. “Neither of these aircraft is [stealthy] and you also have no advantage of managing the same kind [of aircraft] Like now, “he added.
Another question would be how fast European suppliers can increase the production capacity of their aircraft, said Byron Callan, director at the Capital Alpha Partners research group. All three fighters-Tophoon, bursts and grinds are produced on “single-digit monthly rates,” he said in a recent note.
Last week, Germany announced that it would buy the F-35 nozzles to replace their fleet of a tornado that could adhere to nuclear nuclear abilities, which can be worn by US nuclear weapons in the event of a “nuclear division” nuclear arrangement.
Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defense and Space, who builds a typhoon with European partners, said this week that in his “personal view” it made sense for Germany to adhere to the F-35 element for sharing nuclear energy.
“You depend on the USA anyway, so you could depend on the rest,” he said while he was at Airbus event in Toulouse, although he added that there was “a growing place for Eurofighter.”
How bad is it for Lockheed Martin?
Despite the non-devil who felt some countries, it would be difficult for peoples flying F-35 to give up future shopping, and especially heavy for countries whose defense industry is key partners in the F-35 program.
Troels Lund Poulsen, Minister of Defense Dane, said on Wednesday that the Scandinavian country wants to buy more F-35 from the USA, despite escalating dispute with Trump ended Greenland.
He told the Børsen newspaper that Copenhagen was supposed to strengthen the fleet of fighter jets and to “make sense” to buy more F-35 above 27 he ordered. Despite fears Now they could prevent aircraft from stopping spare parts, Poulsen said that Denmark was not great enough to support several different types of fighter jets, and that military independence from the US was an illusion.
Dak Hardwick, Vice President of International Affairs at the US Air Force Industry Association, said it would be difficult to separate “bonds” between European and American companies “without long -term consequences” with regard to the decade of the old interconnection of industrial bases and supply chains.
Lockheed produces about 155 jets a year and had a backlog of 408 aircraft at the end of 2024. Earlier this year, he estimated that “potential options” that domestic and international sales were as many as 2,300 units. Jet -OV Pricetag, excluding maintenance costs and operational costs, starts from approximately $ 80 million to $ 110 million Depending on the variant.
The U.S. Ministry of Defense 2025 for 68 F-35s suggests “the importance of clients who are not in the US in the maintenance of the current production rate in the late 2020s/mid-2030s,” said Callan of Capital Alpha.
Although they could buy more now, Lockheed could also achieve sales agreements with India, Saudi Arabia or other Asian and Middle Eastern countries, he added.
Lockheed Martin refused to comment on the article ahead of his results.
The defense contractor, and now, said Barrie of Iiss, he was “very successful in Europe, he has been a lot of competition in every competition [the F-35] He came in and don’t want to see it in any way. “
“Nobody likes to lose the customer. Once you get someone to go into the hook, you want to keep them there,” he added.
Additional reporting of Richard Milne in Oslo
