Defense News: possible acquisition of F-35 by Germany threatens EU industry
The fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter produced by the American company Lockheed Martin as a possible candidate to replace the German Tornado aircraft may threaten the joint program of France, Germany and Spain to create a new generation European fighter, Defense News recognizes .
"This, in turn, is fraught not only with the failure of the [European] program for the creation of sixth-generation aircraft, but also with the defense-industrial ambitions of the European Union as a whole," the American publication claims.
The publication asks whether the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, which assumes, in particular, the creation of a new fighter, will be able to coexist with the possible acquisition by Germany of F-35 Lightning II aircraft. It is noted that the German industry, represented by Airbus Defense and Space, is not interested in Germany acquiring F-35 Lightning II aircraft from the United States and is seeking an equal partnership with the French Dassault in the FCAS project.
In December 2021, the US Air Force permanently deployed its fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II fighters in Europe for the first time.
In September, in the presentation of the American corporation Lockheed Martin, presented at the 27th international exhibition MSPO 2021, it was told that in the current decade, 13 permanent air bases with 450 F-35 Lightning II aircraft are planned to be deployed in Europe. According to the map shown on the corresponding slide, there will be two air bases with such fighters in the UK, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Belgium and Poland, while there will be one in Denmark. Four of the 13 facilities have already been commissioned. The deadlines for the start of full-fledged work of the other eight air bases have been set. The final decision on the 13th object (near the Polish city of Svidvin) has not yet been made.
These plans do not take into account the purchase of aircraft by Switzerland and Finland.
