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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
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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
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Instead of the F-35, they are increasingly looking to European alternatives, such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS).
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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
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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. …
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.
Ideally we would want a couple F-35s anyways, to dissect
We already have 12. The question is whether we take shipment of the rest.
That does further complicate things, because the RCAF won’t want to operate two different platforms. If we don’t bother taking the rest of the order then those twelve jets, fully paid for, basically sit in a junkyard somewhere. Or, as you say, get dissected or used for training. Not a total waste, but definitely something the Conservatives will gleefully point to as an example of mismanagement.
And they are bricked on a software issue for a year, even the US Navy rejected these planes. We are buying junk.
https://www.navylookout.com/us-watchdog-warns-of-growing-risks-to-f-35-programme/
"Central to Block 4 is the Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) hardware and software suite, a $1.9 billion upgrade that boosts computing power and memory. TR-3 has proved far harder to deliver than expected. GAO notes continuing problems with sensors, software stability and supply chains. By 2024, every F-35 delivered was late, on average 238 days behind schedule, largely due to TR-3.
In a highly unusual step, the Pentagon began accepting non-combat-capable aircraft with TR-3 hardware installed but immature software. These jets are being used for training while awaiting retrofit. By mid-2025, 174 such aircraft had been accepted. For the UK, this precedent is concerning: should future deliveries to the RAF and RN fall into this category, the Lightning Force could receive expensive jets that are not immediately usable for operations."
Yikes. Definitely another good argument for switching to the Gripen, for sure.
Why spend the money? Just wait for a leak on the War Thunder forums.
I have an idea how Gripens could help with that.
Sure we could capture one, but if your enemy wants to sell you their hardware before the fighting kicks off so you can get to work early, it’d be insane to pass that up.
We’re already committed to some number, I don’t remember how many. It would be insane to order any more, or to rely on them in combat.
I don’t like that we’re expected to honour commitments when the other party doesn’t feel the same obligation.
“You are illegally tariffing us, so in response your F35 contract is voided. Come talk to us again when you are serious.”