F-35

Pentagon eyes Greece, Poland, Romania and Spain as potential new operators of the F-35

By Dario Leone
Apr 15 2019
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The European allies have to build up their defence forces against a strengthening Russia.

According to Reuters, Director, Joint Strike Fighter Program, Vice Admiral Mathias W. “Mat” Winter, told U.S. lawmakers that “future potential Foreign Military Sales customers for the F-35 include Singapore, Greece, Romania, Spain and Poland.”

This consideration is made because the European allies have to build up their defence forces against a strengthening Russia. This will probably result in an offer to those countries. Currently these four countries are in need of new fighter aircraft.

Another country that is currently a sales target for the F-35 is Singapore. In January 2019, the Singaporean Ministry of Defence announced that it saw the F-35 as the most suitable replacement for its ageing F-16s.

Noteworthy, news of the new customers coincides with U.S. tension with F-35 development partner Turkey over Ankara’s plans to buy S-400 Russian missile defence system.

Pentagon eyes Greece, Poland, Romania and Spain as potential new operators of the F-35
This print is available in multiple sizes from AircraftProfilePrints.com – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS. F-35A Lightning II 56th OG, 61st FS, LF/12-5050 / 2014

Other U.S. allies have been eyeing a purchase of the stealthy jet including Finland, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates.

Last year, Belgium was the first new customer for the F-35 in years, choosing it over the Eurofighter Typhoon to replace its ageing F-16s.

Lockheed Martin developed three variants of Joint Strike Fighter variants: the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) variant, the F-35B short take-off and vertical-landing (STOVL) variant, and the F-35C carrier-based Catapult Assisted Take-Off But Arrested Recovery (CATOBAR) variant.

The U.S. 10 other countries have signed up to buy the jets: Britain, Australia, Italy, Turkey, Norway, the Netherlands, Israel, Japan, South Korea and Belgium.

Pentagon eyes Greece, Poland, Romania and Spain as potential new operators of the F-35
This model is available from AirModels – CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS.

Photo credit: U.S. Air Force

Artwork courtesy of AircraftProfilePrints.com


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Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

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