Britain will push ahead with a multi-billion pound deal to buy US fighter jets in defiance of European warnings that President Trump could disable the aircraft.
Ministers are set to confirm the purchase of F-35 Lightnings instead of “expensive” Eurofighter Typhoons
Ministers are set to confirm the purchase of F-35 Lightnings instead of “expensive” Eurofighter Typhoons
Comments
If the US pulled the plug the system would be likely inoperable within a matter of months.
Perhaps time to look at buying French missiles.
https://www.politico.eu/article/trump-tariffs-are-start-of-a-march-to-independence-for-europe-says-ecbs-lagarde/
Further, based upon recent announcements by that "ally" that problem could run for another 4 - 8 years.
There are other sources from where such arms are available.
There are others that could have been used as equally appropriate.
Follow Canada and buy from a different supplier European preferably.
Long discussion on this thread on the merits of various fighters
https://www.reddit.com/r/LessCredibleDefence/comments/1akrtg9/dassault_rafale_vs_saab_gripen/?rdt=63266
It's barely more competent than the Tories. This will be their only election victory for sure.
'I would but the terms of our F35 contract prohibits it'
Both options are terrifying
Let’s take from the disabled and the poor while handing out tax breaks to US tech giants.
Labour are playing a blinder here!
#Spineless #Labour
https://bsky.app/profile/maxbrockbank.com/post/3lkvqekm6dc24
It turns out, the US sees Nato as a protection racket.
We could argue that the EU obliges us to buy from member states, but we're not in the EU. Doh!
It will be interesting to see the actual Terms of this.
https://www.declassifieduk.org/revealed-hundreds-of-f-35-components-sent-from-britain-to-u-s/#:~:text=Over%2015%20percent%20of%20the,contributing%20to%20the%20supply%20chain.
Doors wide open to fascism, totalitarianism and control by a foreign power whilst everyone whines about "sovrinty" whenever Fuxit is mentioned.
I wouldn't now buy an American hamburger, never mind a US national defence system.
He's pathetic and he needs to be gone.
That is the bulk of lifetime costs.
It has a long maintenance turnaround for the same reason.
The F35B is about 50% more expensive than other models of F35, and the upgraded Typhoon is a better bet for land based aircraft.
The Typhoon is surely the better option for today?!
🇬🇧 production line and weapons, far cheaper running costs, longer range and higher availability.
The integration of the 'good stuff' has been delayed again, (end of the decade )+ will require a costly software and hardware upgrade.....
If trump attempts to take Greenland how would the UK be able to join with Europe to defend it?
Would the uk be able to make its own choices how to use the jets at all?
Or would it depend on trump’s approval ?
NATO would be forced to act even though America is part of NATO.
We will see.
Alternatively, we could just buy the new Chinese planes. If we are happy buying planes from an unstable aggressive nation (USA) we shouldn’t have a problem with buying from China?
Things move on, inc relationships that were once respectful & reliable. The UK / US relationship is now neither of those things.
How things have changed for the Brits.
Shame.