If Lisbon does end up forgoing the F-35, it could look to purchase less capable European options.
Portugal’s search to replace its aging fleet of F-16 Fighting Falcons is well underway. While Lisbon initially indicated a plan to procure the fifth-generation American-made F-35 Lightning II as its new platform, Portuguese defense minister Nuno Melo recently indicated another approach may be necessary, citing the Trump administration’s position on NATO.
Melo articulated that Portugal must take into account the potential “limitations” that the White House could impose on foreign-operated Joint Strike Fighters, including the withholding of software upgrades. However, the United States does not possess such a “kill switch” that could directly turn off the capabilities of foreign-operated F-35s.
According to U.S. law, other nations are not permitted to modify or test the fighters independently. The 350th Spectrum Warfare Group’s F-35 Program Support Cell spells out that foreign operators “are not allowed to conduct independent test operations outside of the Continental United States (CONUS) based on U.S. policy. United States Government (USG) security rules and National Defense Policy (NDP) require that U.S. citizens perform specific functions in order to protect critical U.S. technology.”
Lisbon Has Relied on Its Fighting Falcon Fleet for Decades
Portugal’s 1990 Peace Atlantic I program culminated in the nation’s acceptance of F-16 fighters. The American-made Fighting Falcon platform is arguably the most formidable fourth-generation jet to ever fly the skies. From its hefty armament load to its extensive range, the F-16 continues to be flown by many nations across the globe. Lisbon received its first batch of twenty F-16 Block OCY aircraft in the 1990s, which it has maintained ever since. However, as geopolitical tensions continue to climb and the Russian invasion of Ukraine rages on, Lisbon is seeking newer defense products just like the rest of the NATO members.
Why the F-35 Is So Popular
The Joint Strike Fighter’s popularity on the export market is well warranted. From stealth and weapons range to electronic warfare capability and data-link connectivity, the F-35 is truly unparalleled across the board. Each aircraft in this platform features a 360-degree Distributed Aperture System and long-range electro-optical targeting technology which allow the fighter to quickly identify threats. While in its stealth configuration, the Lightning II can still carry some of the most lethal weaponry available, including Aim-120 AMRAAM missiles and GBU-31 joint direct attack munition smart bombs. However, while in “beast mode,” the Lightning II is even deadlier as it can lug additional air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance. Perhaps most notable, the F-35’s incorporated modular connectivity enables seamless updates. F-35s are also able to securely communicate with each other and other aircraft using the Multifunction Advanced Data Link system that is extremely difficult to penetrate.
Based on these capabilities, the F-35’s popularity across the globe surely checks out. If Lisbon does end up steering away from purchasing the F-35, it could fulfill its defense needs by looking toward less capable European options. The Eurofighter Typhoon, French Rafale, and Swedish Gripen could all possibly be on the table.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: DVIDS.
