Europe and Canada Are Finally Saying No to the F-35 Stealth Fighter
nationalsecurityjournal.org
Key Points and Summary – European nations and Canada are “pushing away” from the F-35, motivated by a desire for “strategic autonomy” and political friction with the Trump administration. -Spain officially canceled its F-35 purchase in August 2025, opting for European-built alternatives after PM Pedro Sanchez clashed with Trump over NATO spending. -Switzerland, meanwhile, is […]

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  • European nations and Canada are “pushing away” from the F-35, motivated by a desire for “strategic autonomy” and political friction with the Trump administration

  • Spain officially canceled its F-35 purchase in August 2025, opting for European-built alternatives. Switzerland is now also reviewing its 36-jet deal after being hit with a “shocking” $1.3 billion price hike and new 39% U.S. tariffs, and recent reports suggest that Portugal has not opted to purchase the U.S. jets

  • Instead of the F-35, they are increasingly looking to European alternatives, such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS).

  • Canada’s 88-jet deal is also in “limbo,” as PM Mark Carney, angered by Trump’s “51st state” comments and trade disputes, ordered a review of the 72 un-committed jets

  • Technological and industrial sovereignty are significant reasons why some countries are opting not to purchase the F-35. Some European nations prioritize developing their own defense industries and technological bases. Buying American-made F-35s would make them dependent on US supply chains and could suppress the development of their own next-generation aircraft programs. …

  • puppinstuff@lemmy.caEnglish
    2·
    36 minutes ago

    I won’t trust Carney to fully scrap the deal after his embarrassing apology for the Ford ad last week. Keeping it in the maybe pile is more helpful for negotiation even though we would be better off with Typhoons or Gripens.

    • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.ca
      12·
      6 hours ago

      I think as of now RCAF still wants them and the deal isn’t off yet. I imagine it’s also a card that’s used in the negotiations with the US. I wouldn’t be surprised if we end up staying with the F35s.

      • kent_eh@lemmy.caEnglish
        4·
        4 hours ago

        I imagine it’s also a card that’s used in the negotiations with the US.

        I have no doubt that it is.

        A smart negotiator doesn’t play all their cards at the start. They gradually bring out their various pressure points over time when it is strategic to do so. And they hold back the “nuclear option” until it becomes necessary.

      • HumanOnEarth@lemmy.ca
        6·
        6 hours ago

        I imagine they will stall as long as they can to see if MAGA loses their grip. 0% chance of agreeing to the rest of the F-35s if MAGA is still in power.

        • Avid Amoeba@lemmy.ca
          2·
          4 hours ago

          I hope you’re right and I do think that’s likely what’s happening but I’m not certain.

    • mintiefresh@piefed.socialEnglish
      2·
      4 hours ago

      I find it wild that we are still considering buying military planes from a country that is threatening our sovereignty lol. I’m sure it’s more complex but … also, it doesn’t have to be. Just buy from somewhere else.

  • Wren@lemmy.todayEnglish
    71·
    5 hours ago

    The F-35s have been the kid in a toxic custody trial for fucking ever, already costing billions more than expected. The same shit happened over the F-22 and we’re still using goddamn F-18s.

    In the year 2125 we’ll finally welcome in a new fleet of F-69’s to retire a squadron of Hornets being held together by spit and glue.

  • mercano@lemmy.world
    5·
    5 hours ago

    I’m curious what countries like Spain, Italy, and the UK will do. They all have smaller aircraft carriers that require short takeoff / vertical landing planes, a role currently being filled by the F-35B. I’m unaware of anything similar from other western aircraft manufacturers.

    • decipher_jeanne@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      1·
      5 minutes ago

      No other aircraft can do it as of now. A potential VSTOL derivative of the Tempest?

      The royal navy doesn’t even have the aircrafts for its 2 carriers. The entire UK military is notoriously underfunded even in critical aspects like SSBN. Not likely to fund a new aircraft.

      Italy and Japan both already have their F-35Bs for their carriers. It’s hard to see them ditch multi billion investments.

      Korea might get a STVOL Carrier eventually but they are involved with lockeed on other projects, and operate F-35A already. so they are likely to get F-35B as well.

      I mean outside of Spain I don’t see who needs an F-35B alternative. Spain lacks a proper aviation industry but maybe they could keep on getting upgrade packages for their Harrier II for a few more decades. Who knows? Maybe in 20 years strategic alliances will have shifted and Chinese airframes will be on the table.

    • cassandrafatigue@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      3·
      3 hours ago

      Well, there’s the very real possibility of having to fight the americans, who install kill switches and make everything proprietary so you can’t make your own parts.

      So, go without planes, or pay your most likely military enemy for the privilege of going without planes?

  • HumanOnEarth@lemmy.ca
    35·
    6 hours ago

    I would trust a Chinese made fighter jet before I would trust an American one.

    And that’s saying something.