Portugal Wobbles on Buying F-35s Because of Trump

Sunday, March 16, 2025

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 | 27 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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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 | Reply | Newsworthy 2

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 | Reply | Newsworthy 3

"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 | Reply

They might as well buy MIGs.

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

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

pbicanada.org

#5 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-03-14 03:50 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

It's a 40 year old gen 4 airframe.

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

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 | Reply | Newsworthy 1

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 | Reply

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 | Reply | Funny: 1

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 | Reply

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 | Reply | Funny: 1

"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 | Reply | Newsworthy 1

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 | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Exactly what Trumpers want.

#16 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2025-03-14 06:59 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

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 | Reply | Funny: 1

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

Canada reconsidering F-35 purchase amid tensions with Washington

www.cbc.ca

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 | Reply | Newsworthy 1

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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

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