President Donald Trump has touted himself as a great deal-maker. Yet, last Thursday, it was reported that NATO ally Portugal has opted not to replace its aging fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons with the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.
Portuguese Minister of Defense Nuno Melo cited the current U.S. administration as the key factor behind the reluctance to purchase American aircrafts.
“The F-16s are at the end of their cycle, and we will have to think about their replacement,” Melo told the Portuguese-based Público. “We cannot ignore the geopolitical environment in our choices. The recent position of the United States, in the context of NATO and the international geostrategic plan, must make us think about the best options because the predictability of our allies is a greater asset to consider.”
The defense chief said he wouldn’t discuss what aircraft Lisbon could consider; however, he was asked whether French options could be considered. There is speculation that Portugal might adopt the Dassault Rafale or the Swedish-made Saab JAS 39 Gripen to replace the F-16s while looking for a European sixth-generation aircraft.
Melo further confirmed that Portugal is among the NATO members on track to increase its defense spending to 2 percent of GDP by 2029.
“What we are doing is already a huge effort to meet the targets and commitments established with our allies,” Melo explained.
F-35 Lightning II maker Lockheed Martin responded to the Portuguese decision, telling Politico in a statement on Friday that it “values our strong partnership and history with the Portuguese Air Force and looks forward to continuing that partnership into the future. The F-35 is the world’s most advanced, survivable, and connected fighter aircraft, enabling twenty-first-century security and allied deterrence. The U.S. government best addresses questions about foreign military sales of the F-35.”
Trump Soured the Deal for the United States
Earlier this week, reports circulated that the F-35 Lightning II was equipped with a “kill switch” that could essentially cripple the aircraft. Still, multiple NATO members have responded that no such technology is installed.
However, the United States controls access to software and other upgrades, and it was further noted that Washington could decline updates to some of the jamming technology employed in the F-16 Fighting Falcons that were provided to Ukraine.
“This would significantly reduce the strength of the F-16s,” The Independent explained.
“Such a move would break European trust in American weapons manufacturers, ultimately proving problematic in the long term. Nonetheless, European countries are asking whether the same could happen to the fighter jets they purchased.”
However, the F-35 program is an international consortium of companies, and Dutch Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans dismissed claims that Washington could simply ground the F-35 program.
“It’s in the interest of all of us to make sure that the F-35 program remains operational, that it remains as successful as it is right now, and I don’t see any signs of the United States backtracking,” Brekelmans said in a press briefing at the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum.
For Trump, the F-35 Deals Are Not Dead Yet
It is also unlikely that any current operator will ground or retire their F-35s, but countries now awaiting the Joint Strike Fighter may alter/reduce orders accordingly. There have been strong calls for Canada to cancel its Lightning II orders outright, and it is believed Germany is considering other options.
As a point to remember, it was only last November that Trump’s ally and advisor Elon Musk made headlines when he praised Chinese drone technology, stating, “Meanwhile, some idiots are still building manned fighter jets like the F-35.”
Even if orders for the F-35 aren’t significantly impacted, lightning won’t strike again with an American sixth-gen aircraft. Pun intended.
The British-Italian-Japanese Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) and the Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS) are moving forward. GCAP is lining up buyers in NATO and beyond, and FCAS is also looking for additional partners, with Belgium expressing interest in joining.
That will leave the U.S. Air Force alone with its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program, which has already faced turbulence over cost and capabilities.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Wikimedia Commons/ EPP Political Assembly.
