Will the F-35 soar over Finland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic? (U.S. Air Force/ Joshua D. King)
Breaking Defense: F-35 faces stiff competition as European nations decide on future fighters
Politics, diplomacy complicate decisions by Finland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland when it comes to the F-35 versus other American and international competitors.
KIEV: Over the next few years, a trio of European nations will make major decisions on their future fighter aircraft, meaning a potential impact on the long-term American/European fighter market — and whether European manufacturers can rack up wins against the nearly undefeated F-35 — looms.
As always, the usual considerations — how much capability can be acquired at what price, what is the long-term cost of ownership, which of the manufacturers can offer the most workshare and domestic politics — will come into play. But the three nations in question all have unique attributes that could pose challenges to the US fifth-gen fighter.
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WNU Editor: The F-35 is not only a very expensive fighter jet to buy, but the maintenance costs are massive. This is something that I am sure these prospective buyers are factoring in before making their decision.