F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Gains International Traction as Finland and Belgium Express Interest

Strategic Insights -

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corp, has received expressions of interest from Finland and Belgium, marking the latest countries to engage with the Pentagon about potential purchases. The F-35 is a multinational fighter aircraft under development with financing from the United States and eight other countries. Finland and Belgium have joined the list of potential buyers, which includes Spain, Greece, and South Korea. Israel is the furthest along in a projected government-to-government F-35 deal, with plans to purchase an initial 25 F-35s in 2012 for delivery in 2014.

Key Takeaways:

  • The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has received expressions of interest from Finland, Belgium, Spain, Greece, and South Korea.
  • Israel is the furthest along in a projected government-to-government F-35 deal, with plans to purchase 25 F-35s in 2012 for delivery in 2014.
  • 24 countries that fly Lockheed's F-16 fighter are potential customers for the F-35.
  • The eight countries that have joined the United States to co-develop the F-35 are Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark, and Norway.
  • The United States currently plans to buy a total of 2,443 F-35 models, with 1,763 for the U.S. Air Force and 680 for the Marine Corps and Navy together.
  • The F-35 is the costliest U.S. arms acquisition program ever, with a projected cost of $299 billion over the next two decades.
  • The conventional take-off and landing model of the F-35 is projected to cost in the "upper" $60 million range per copy in adjusted 2014 dollars.
  • The short takeoff and landing version is projected to cost in the mid-to-upper $80 million range.
  • The variant designed to land on Navy aircraft carrier is projected to cost in the low $90 million range in 2015 dollars.

Statistics:

  • 24 countries that fly Lockheed's F-16 fighter are potential customers for the F-35.
  • The United States currently plans to buy a total of 2,443 F-35 models.
  • The costliest U.S. arms acquisition program ever is the F-35, with a projected cost of $299 billion over the next two decades.
  • The conventional take-off and landing model of the F-35 is projected to cost in the "upper" $60 million range per copy in adjusted 2014 dollars.
  • The short takeoff and landing version is projected to cost in the mid-to-upper $80 million range.
  • The variant designed to land on Navy aircraft carrier is projected to cost in the low $90 million range in 2015 dollars.

Sources:

  • Lockheed Martin Corp
  • Euclid Infotech Pvt. Ltd.
  • Syndigate.info
  • Albawaba.com