Portugal Wobbles on Buying F-35s Because of Trump | Drudge Retort

Sunday, March 16, 2025

Portugal Wobbles on Buying F-35s Because of Trump

Portugal ruled out replacing its U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets with more modern F-35s because of Donald Trump - in one of the first examples of the U.S. president killing a potential lucrative arms deal.

Posted by censored at 09:30 AM | 37 COMMENTS | permalink

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"" Portugal Defense Minister announced that Portugal will not purchase F-35 fighter jets from the US, citing geopolitical uncertainty and the unpredictability of American policy.[image or embed]
" MAKS 24 ... (@maks23.bsky.social) March 13, 2025 at 2:05 PM

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"The world has changed ... and this ally of ours ... could bring limitations to use, maintenance, components, and everything that has to do with ensuring that aircraft will be operational and used in all types of scenarios," Melo said.

He added: "There are several options that must be considered, particularly in the context of European production."

#1 | Posted by censored at 2025-03-14 11:57 AM

The Portuguese aren't buying American because they no longer trust America.

This is a significant achievement for Donald Trump after just eight weeks in office.

#2 | Posted by Zed at 2025-03-14 12:36 PM

"We will have so much winning if I get elected that you may get bored with the winning."

#3 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-03-14 12:51 PM

They might as well buy MIGs.

#4 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-03-14 01:56 PM

Portugal has a total of 28 jet fighters in its armed forces, so this move is more symbolic but nevertheless important. Germany and Canada are also reviewing cancelling their F35 contracts. France and Sweden have their own next generation stealth fighter which may supply NATO. Lockheed-Martin Corporation stock price per share today: $466.82

#5 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-03-14 03:50 PM

French FCAS doesn't exist outside of paperwork.

The Italian-British-Japanese GCAP has currently projected first delivery in 2035. It's based on BAE Tempest which never existed outside of paperwork, and doesn't seem to exist outside of paperwork and is projected for deliveries, maybe, in 2035.

#6 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2025-03-14 04:30 PM

How about the French Rafale fighter? "The Rafale is considered one of the most advanced and capable warplanes in the world, and among the most successful internationally. It has been used in combat over Afghanistan, Libya, Mali, Iraq and Syria." www.airforce-technology.com

#7 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-03-14 04:39 PM

It's a 40 year old gen 4 airframe.

#8 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2025-03-14 04:50 PM

An old European jet that works, more or less, or a fancy American jet that can be yanked out from under them because the MAGAts are cozy with Russia, Europe's biggest threat.

The tradeoffs are clear, but I know what I'd be doing if I were Europe; investing in their own MIC.

#9 | Posted by censored at 2025-03-14 04:59 PM

Thanks, Sitzkrieg. I'm a ground guy. To me there are slow movers and fast movers, friendly or enemy. Last year, Macron went to Saudi Arabia pushing this fighter on MBS; maybe he won't buy them now. defencesecurityasia.com

#10 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-03-14 05:05 PM

It works at chasing down cruise missiles, but it's an expensive way to do things.

You're not going to fly into a bunch of S-300/400 systems and survive.

"The tradeoffs are clear, but I know what I'd be doing if I were Europe; investing in their own MIC."

...

"BAE Systems brings its military aircraft expertise to the development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of the F-35.

We have been part of the programme since its inception and we are on a continuing mission to support our customers and the armed forces who keep us safe by driving readiness, availability and affordability for the global fleet."

The EU has significant MIC investments in the F-35.

#11 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2025-03-14 05:22 PM

You can't make the F-35 without the UK MIC. They make the rear fuselage and tail assemblies, EW suite, RWR, even the sensors used to detect corrosion.

#12 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2025-03-14 05:23 PM

The French wanted to compete with the F-35. Always refused to buy any.

The best they could do was a gen 4 jet that's not any better than gen 3 jets with updated radars.

It's also dependent on ... BAE, no BAE, no updated Super Rafale.

#13 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2025-03-14 05:26 PM

"You can't make the F-35 without the UK MIC"

^
This is why Putin wanted Brexit so bad.

#14 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-03-14 05:27 PM

The EU has significant MIC investments in the F-35.
#11 | Posted by sitzkrieg

That should speed things up for them as they create replacements for our weapons. No sense in counting on us anymore, when the GOP has decided that they like Russia more than democracy.

#15 | Posted by censored at 2025-03-14 05:27 PM

Exactly what Trumpers want.

#16 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2025-03-14 06:59 PM

Portugal has a total of 28 jet fighters in its armed forces, so this move is more symbolic but nevertheless important.

Symbolic? Its propaganda.

Portugal wasn't even on the horizon to get the F-35, hell they couldn't afford it.

^
This is why Putin wanted Brexit so bad.
#14 | POSTED BY SNOOFY A

Yeah he's playing 6D chess with your propaganda.

#17 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-03-14 07:01 PM

Exactly what Trumpers want.
#16 | Posted by sitzkrieg

Yep! We've lost credibility. And now we're going to lose the weapon sales that went along with that credibility.

Trump may not have a kill switch' for fighter jets - but he has something else
The day-to-day running of aircraft is heavily reliant on US systems, from software updates to spare parts. This means that America does have the ability to make F-35s work less efficiently or less safely - if at all.
www.msn.com

#18 | Posted by censored at 2025-03-14 07:09 PM

Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinburg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And that my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide, then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said thank you, and went on your way, Otherwise, I suggest you pick up a weapon, and stand a post. Either way, I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to..
--Col. Jessep

You're fired.
--President Trump

#19 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-03-14 08:06 PM

The demented orange pedo keeps claiming the F-35 is invisible.

www.popularmechanics.com

#20 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-03-14 08:08 PM

Canada reconsidering F-35 purchase amid tensions with Washington

Doe 174 should film a F-35 commercial on the White House lawn to boost slumping sales.

#21 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-03-14 08:26 PM

The F-35 is a revolutionary aircraft. I spent most of my life in the Air Force thinking it was just another dumb fighter. It can drop bombs and shoot down other airplanes. It can do that, but its real value is as an ISR platform.

And I tell the pilots that. They are no longer fighter pilots. Any monkey can do that. They are ISR pilots.

I haven't gotten punched in the face yet.

#22 | Posted by madbomber at 2025-03-15 02:57 PM

I wouldn't either. I wouldn't trust America as far as you can throw it right now. If Trumpy has a bad tariff day then parts and maintenance and training will suddenly become no longer available.

#23 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-03-16 12:14 PM

F35 was a boondoggle anyway. Add to that the killswitch and partial global graftectomy, boom deal's off.

#24 | Posted by itchyp at 2025-03-16 02:40 PM

Gripen good enough to deal with Russia and doesn't come equipped with a pentagon kill switch.
Between Canada's review and Portugal, potentially killing the sale of 100 units.
So much winning...

#25 | Posted by northguy3 at 2025-03-16 04:59 PM

Next up - nato members leave the middle east and pacific for America to deal with alone.

#26 | Posted by northguy3 at 2025-03-16 05:00 PM

Sitz, the uk isn't part of the EU.

#27 | Posted by northguy3 at 2025-03-16 05:03 PM

America is unreliable.
But that's what happens when you elect a senile narcissist with a 4-year-old's understanding of the world.
Trump talks about s-hole countries and he's rapidly turning this nation into one.

#28 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2025-03-17 06:41 AM

#28: Hi Doc: Newly sworn in Canadian PM Mark Carney did NOT travel to the US as his first official visit: www.pm.gc.ca

"The Prime Minister and Canada's new government are focused on what matters most right now: creating more higher-paying jobs, building new trade relationships with reliable partners, and making Canada more secure.

To that end, the Prime Minister announced that he will travel to Paris, France, London, the UK, and Iqaluit, Nunavut, from 16-18 March 2025 to strengthen two of our closest and longest-standing economic and security partnerships, and to reaffirm Canada's Arctic security and sovereignty."

Gut arbet, Republican voters. Our closest friend and ally knows what the US is now. But how long will the Kremlin occupation of the US last?

#29 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-03-17 07:09 AM

Sitz, the uk isn't part of the EU.

#27 | Posted by northguy3 at 2025-03-16 05:03 PM | Reply

MIC wise they are. BAE & Airbus are heavily intertwined.

#30 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2025-03-17 09:16 AM

Not to mention that NATO alliance, being part of an EU peacekeeping force in Ukraine that keeps getting floated, etc.

#31 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2025-03-17 09:17 AM

The European and probably Canadian( not nato or EU) military alliance won't include Russian allies America or Hungary.

#32 | Posted by northguy3 at 2025-03-17 11:04 AM

Rofl, once again liberals cannot shake their hypocrisy. For DECADES, liberals are the ones who have demonized the military camp. They have demonized that America sells military equipment to other countries, even our biggest allies. They demonized the multi-billion dollars deals.

Now, all of a sudden it meets their narrative and they are for it.

Are ANY of you capable of being objective and seeing how incredibly bad your party has become? Are you capable yet of seeing that it is only through your party's astounding dive into extremism has allowed someone like Trump to actually get voted in in the first place?

You can't argue what I said above yet you can't accept it, either. It is definitely inarguable since all of the proof is out there and we have decades of it, so you can't argue it or ignore it. My guess is you will turn to the only other defensive option you have that doesn't require accepting that maybe your party could do a little better, so go ahead and commence with the name calling.

#33 | Posted by humtake at 2025-03-17 11:55 AM

"For DECADES, liberals are the ones who have demonized the military camp. They have demonized that America sells military equipment to other countries, even our biggest allies. They demonized the multi-billion dollars deals.

Now, all of a sudden it meets their narrative and they are for it."

But why aren't you for it? Why did you suddenly change?

#34 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-03-17 11:58 AM

#33 | Posted by humtake

Amazing.

How is it every time Humtake posts, he proves he has no idea what is going on or ever went on?

He just keeps batting 1000 on it.

It's incredible. Someone needs to study this.

#35 | Posted by Sycophant at 2025-03-17 12:44 PM

Rofl, once again liberals cannot shake their hypocrisy. For DECADES, liberals are the ones who have demonized the military camp.
[blah, blah, blah]
#33 | Posted by humtake

Your Russian troll posts are still getting paid by the word, it seems.

I'm a liberal (although many here think I'm not because I don't cotton to an infinite number of genders/sexes, hugging Islamist terrorists, handing out gold star stickers to violent criminals, etc.) and I've always believed in a strong military presence and capacity. Because that's the only way to ensure the Putins of Russia and the Pooh Bears of China don't call the shots.

#36 | Posted by censored at 2025-03-17 12:49 PM

Are ANY of you capable of being objective and seeing how incredibly bad your party has become?

#33 | Posted by humtake

That's what we started asking you on Jan 6th.

Your resounding answer was NO.

#37 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2025-03-17 03:24 PM

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