No “killer switch” on the super hunting, Trump’s words on NATO are more damaged that would push European nations towards the productions of Sweden and France. And we would lose it would be Italians who assemble the US hunting.
Who knows if Donald Trump has thought of the consequences of a possible change of position of the USA towards the Born. And in particular to the impact on the Sale of F-35at least as long as the new will not be ready F-47. One thing is certain: his allies are questioning their excessive dependence on the weapons produced in the USA and already some existing projects to hunt for sixth generation like it Fcas And it GCAPgo in this direction.
Albeit with all youth, supplies and software problems, the program Lockheed Martin F-35 JSF Lightning II represented a global effort based on cooperation and trust, has created value and jobs – in Italy, a Cameri (Novara)there is the factory that assembles the specimens intended for Europe – but this industrial reality could become the victim of the threats of Donald Trumppushing the Defense of partner nations to make themselves independent.
Not to mention the externalizations concerning the annexation of the Greenland at the Denmark and the transformation of the Canada In the 51st American state, also because these are nations that already use this fifth generation jet and need to spare parts as software updates produced in the United States. This also for a reason that is the basis of the efficiency of the airplane: it depends on the quick and punctual sharing of data.
And if trust in United States drops, many of the nations that base their defense strategy of the airspace on the F-35could re -evaluate their “dependence” and plan purchases elsewhere, addressing the Sweden or to unrealistic France who can’t wait to place his Dassault rafale or, in the future, the export version of the nascent Fcas.
In the short term no country that currently has in force F-35 He will probably abandon him immediately, but Germany And Canada they could change their recent orders, while the countries of the Born who were assuming further purchases from the USA could watch elsewhere in the medium and long term.
An example is the Germanywhich has planned to acquire 35 specimens of the F-35a both for air supremacy and to maintain the ability to transport nuclear weapons (US), missions that are currently carried out by the remaining fleet of – almost obsolete – aircraft Tornado. But if the United States withdraw their nuclear weapons from GermanyBerlin would be forced to consider the purchase of French Rafale waiting for the Fcas And therefore it should rely on the French nuclear deterrent.
The United Kingdomfor example, has thirty of the 138 specimens of F-35 planned, but this supply is to be reconfirmed in the coming years and by virtue of how quick the development of the new will be GCAP (which is made together with Italy And Japan), could divert to this solution part of that money.
And even if nations like theHolland and theItaly they have always reiterated their support for the program F-35 (We are because we assemble them, the Aja because it received 40 of the 52 jets ordered), any reduction in orders would lead to an increase in the unit production costs of the airplane. It is no coincidence that the Minister of Dutch defense Ruben Brekenmansyesterday to Paris has declared to journalists:
“It is in the interest of all of us to make sure that the F-35 program remains operational, that it continues to have the same success it has now, and I don’t see any sign of a step back from the United States.”
From this situation was born the question of the “phantom switch” with which the USA could inhibit the use of F-35 others, a question immediately denied even by the Swiss, who on the government site has published a press release in which he declares that the federal armed forces can make the jet work independently and that there has never been any “Kill Switch” in the hands of Washington.
The only possible thing for the Uncle Samin case of disagreements, would slow down the flow of spare parts and block software updates provided by cloud -based systems and residents in United States. Obtaining a degradation of the performance of the aircraft.
But in a declaration, it “F-35 Joint Program Office” He claimed to remain committed to “providing all users with full functionality and support they need and that the program operates on the basis of consolidated agreements so that all the operators of the F-35 have the necessary skills to use them at best.”
And also the manufacturer Lockheed He claimed to be “committed to providing allied ability, reliability and interoperability to allow customers to complete their missions safely.”
Moreover, it is undeniable that the aerospace industry of USA is strongly integrated with the European one regarding theF-35both for the final assembly line of Cameriboth for the parties that will be made in Swiss And Finland. Consequently, any hypothetical maintenance or support that was denied by USA It would mean self -influenced damage to both American aerospace industry and subcontractors, and this would put future sales of hunting at risk, which at the moment has no rivals, apparently competing.
But this, for Italy, means that we must be maintained the privileged position of those who have a factory at home, and to accelerate the development of the GCAP.
