Those who are closing the door to the US F-35

Last week he met A news of great size for what it meant in Europe: Spain had slammed the 50 f-35 fighter fleet that had applauded with the United States. The reasons: the commitment to a “European defense” and distrust of a military technology in which Washington has great influence, even After purchased The lot.

It turns out that many more nations have joined the “initiative.”

The advance: Spain. It We count A few days ago. Spain has chosen not to acquire the American hunt F-35 Lightning II from Lockheed Martin and will focus its future purchases on European manufacturing aircraft, specifically on the Eurofighter Typhoon And in the future system FCAS (Future Combat Air System) that develops with France and Germany.

The measure, confirmed By the Ministry of Defense, it implies the indefinite suspension of previous contacts with the United States and aligns with a strategy of reinforce sovereignty European industrial and military. According to analysts like Richard Abouulafiathis decision fits with the widest goal of Europe to reduce its technological and productive dependence from abroad.

A hunt in the center of another “war.” Now, the furtive F-35, a symbol of that military cooperation between the United States and its allies, has also become political objective For countries that seek to respond to Trump’s tariff and security policies. The last reaction occurred after the entry into force of a 39% tariff against Switzerland, which has led Swiss parliamentarians to ask for the cancellation of its $ 9.1 billion contract for 36 F-35signed in 2022 to replace its F/A-18 and F-5.

This agreement, initially valued in 6,250 millionalready dragged tensions for inflation before the tariff shock. The controversy comes, in addition and as we said, after Spain will announce that discarded his “50” F-35, and in a context where other allies Like Portugal and Canada They have expressed doubts about the strategic reliability of the United States.

Domino effect. Denmark He said recently that has regretted the purchase. Portugal, through its defense minister Nuno Melo, He has stressed That the predictability of the allies is a key factor when deciding on future fighters, while Canada, despite having compromised funds for the first 16 devices of an order of 88, studies European alternatives before the political climate.

However, recent reports indicate that the Canadian military dome Keep doubting If complete the total acquisition. The discomfort has also reached Switzerland, where voices from the entire political spectrum ask to review or directly cancel His purchase, in line with the growing tendency to use the F-35 as a political lever against Washington.

Hunting as a business. Although Switzerland represents an acceptable request, the global impact on Lockheed Martin’s business is, for now, limited: hundreds of F-35 are in service with the United States and allies, and the Pentagon plans to acquire about 2,400 to replace non -poacher fighters in the three branches of their armed forces.

In 2024, JPMorgan estimated that the F-35 will mean the 25% of sales of Lockheed, with the aeronautics area contributing 41% of quarterly income. At the same time, other clients have expanded orders: United Kingdom (+12), Belgium (+11) and Denmark (+10), and the recent commercial agreement Usa-Eue contemplates massive American weapons purchases.

Cost and projection. The program, awarded to Lockheed in 2001, has suffered constant criticism For cost overruns, delays and an estimated total cost of 1.8 billion dollars throughout its useful life, including development, production, operation and maintenance.

Despite this, the F-35 is still the combat option more advanced Available for United States allies and it is expected to form the backbone of the US fleet for decades, even while Boeing and the Pentagon develop The new generation F-47 with integration of autonomous drones. In real combat he has demonstrated his abilities, as in recent Israeli operations against objectives in Iran.

“European” comparative. He Eurofighter Typhoon With which some countries project part of the substitution is a fourth generation versatile hunting, the result of a European consortium. For its part, the FCAS It aspires to be a sixth generation system with an entry into service planned by 2040.

Although some experts consider the Eurofighter equal to or greater than the F-35 in pure air performance, they recognize that the F-35 has A clear advantage by plane and mission pack. In addition, Eurofighter production is much more limited and FCAS is still in the development phase, which raises challenges to meet demand if American platforms are dispensed with.

Limitations and adjustments. In a hypothetical scenario, the exclusive dependence on European fighters would imply changes in the Structure of forces. The Spanish Navy currently operates Harrier AV-8b In its Aaeronaves, which will be withdrawn soon, the F-35B was the logical option to replace them with their short take-off capacity and vertical landing, something that neither the Eurofightter nor other European models offer.

Without that option, Spain and those who follow them would have to redefine the paper of its aircraft carrier or adapt other solutions. At the interoperability level, giving up F-35 limits the ability to operate homogeneously with allies that use it as standard.

Strategic value against alternatives. JPMorgan analysts point out that, despite criticism, the F-35 offers a significant capacity At a relatively competitive cost in the international market, which is why it continues to be imposed in competitions. Unmanned capabilities deserve investment, but they are still far from replacing a hunt such as F-35.

This combination of operational power, interoperability with numerous allies and technological projection reinforces its position, although commercial tensions and diplomatic promoted by American foreign policy aim to continue undermining cohesion around its acquisition and, perhaps, to that Sorpasso “European” that in no case can occur in the short term.

Image | Robert Sullivan, Christopher Ebdon, TIRADEN

In Xataka | The F-35 not only costs a fortune, it has a button that Spain does not like. So he told the US that he doesn’t want them

In Xataka | Spain refuses to spend 5% of GDP on artillery. Because what you really want is to sell it to Europe