Countries seeking retaliation against President Donald Trump’s tariffs or security policies have made the F-35 Stealth Fighter a mature target.
The latest counterattack took place after Trump’s 39% tariff on Switzerland took effect on Thursday, prompting lawmakers there to demand that the government cancel its $9.1 billion order Lockheed Martin injection.
A Swiss politician said: “A country that throws rocks at us should not have gifts.” Bloomberg.
In 2022, Switzerland finally confirmed a contract 36 F-35 Replaced the fleet of the F/A-18 Hornets and F-5 Tigers. At the time, it was priced at $6.25 billion, but expenses have since risen, partly due to inflation. This created some friction between the United States and Switzerland ahead of the recent tariffs.
However, the upgrade of the F-35 deal comes a few days after Spain ruled out the purchase of the F-35, saying it will buy a less favorable Eurofighter or future combat air system, which remains a common plan between France, Germany, Germany and Spain. In June, Trump criticized Spain for refusing to target NATO’s domestic defense by 5% of GDP by 2035.
Earlier this year Portugal and CanadaSimilarly, NATO allies have doubts about buying the F-35 amid U.S. security commitments and imminent tariffs.
“In the recent situation of NATO and international geostrategic dimensions, the U.S. position has led us to see what the best option is because the predictability of our allies is a factor that cannot be ignored,” said Nuno Melo, then Portugal’s defense minister in March.
Canada also said in March that it is looking for other fighters in a $13 billion deal for 88 F-35s signed in 2023. While Canada has promised money for its first 16 aircraft, it can turn to European aircraft after accepting F-35 batches.
But on Thursday, Sources told Reuters Canadian defense officials strongly proposed the purchase of all 88 F-35 cases while halting formal recommendations.
The Pentagon’s Joint F-35 Program Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “Foreign military sales are government-to-government transactions, and this problem is best solved by the U.S. or national governments,” Lockheed said.
Other allies raise F-35 orders
To be sure, the orders in Switzerland are small compared to Lockheed’s overall F-35 business. Hundreds of F-35s have been used in the U.S. military and among top allies around the world. During its production cycle, the Pentagon plans to purchase about 2,400 F-35s for the Air Force, Navy and Marines to replace the aging non-health care fighter.
JPMorgan estimates that the F-35 will account for 25% of Lockheed’s sales this year. In the second quarter, the company’s aviation sales included fighter jets such as the F-35, up 2% from a year ago and accounted for 41% of total sales.
Meanwhile, other countries have recently added orders, including another 12 from the UK, and 11 from Belgium and at least 10 from Denmark, Lockheed said.
As last month’s US EU Trade Agreement Calls on the EU to purchase “large amounts of” American weapons.
The Pentagon first awarded the Lockheed F-35 contract in 2001, and the program has been a perennial punch-punch bag due to cost overruns, delays and its huge price tag. After including developing, manufacturing, operating and maintaining its ultimate F-35 fleet in the total service life of fighter jets, the Department of Defense estimates that the program will cost $1.8 trillion.
But the Pentagon and Boeing The next generation is developing F-47 stealth fighterit will also fly with autonomous aircraft, and the F-35 is expected to form the backbone of the U.S. fighter fleet for decades.
Currently, the F-35 remains the most advanced fighter jet available for US allies to purchase. It also proved itself in actual combat missions, most recently by Israel’s air force against Iran’s targets.
In February, analysts JPMorgan maintains F-35 as a key capability For the United States and its allies.
“Nevertheless, the F-35 still has important capabilities Relatively The reason they continue to perform well in international competitions is why it continues to perform well in international competitions. “The ability of no one is worth continuing to invest in, but they are far from being able to replace the F-35 and probably not for a while.”
