Image: U.S. Air Force (Photo by Airman First Class Andrew Kobialka)
Brian Burton, War On The Rocks: As Allies Design Fighter Aircraft, the United States Faces a Decision
The United States has a long history of urging its closest allies to spend more on defense, and over the past few years Europe and Japan have started to respond.
But there’s a catch: Rather than content themselves with procuring capabilities that complement U.S. forces, they are about to drop some very expensive investments into the development of their own next-generation fighter aircraft.
In its recently released Defence Command Paper, the U.K. Ministry of Defense committed to invest 2 billion pounds (approximately $2.8 billion) over the next four years into the concept phase of its Future Combat Air System with Sweden and Italy, which includes the Tempest “sixth-generation” fighter program first unveiled in 2018.
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WNU Editor: They rather have the jobs in their own country than in the U.S..
No one wants to partner with a totalitarian regime that's committed a coup and treason against its own people. Money is leaving too until that regime is removed.
ReplyDeleteThe investments required to field a competent 6th get fighter is staggering. At least 10 billion in R&D and factory construction and then look at a small production run. So inevitably their jets will be more expensive than America's or Chinas.
ReplyDeleteSo why do it?
Multi polar world and the US is not going to be defending the free world like it used to. Germany saw the bitterness from the 70 million US voters who backed President Trump and his "get lost Germany" message. Besides when you look at US interests why do we care what Germany and Russia are doing to integrate their energy economy? All the US cares about is Norway, Britain, Iceland, Greenland and the Netherland. The rest aren't vital.
I would be inclined to develop and buy local after the F-35.
ReplyDelete