Free Republic

The U.K.’s decision to drastically alter its fast-jet fleet plans introduces new uncertainties into the global fighter market. In a two-pronged move, London is trimming its buy of Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and changing course on the model. Financial pressures are also triggering angst beyond the U.K. Lt. Col. Rickard Nystrom, head of aircraft programs at the Swedish armed forces headquarters, says it is “a pretty stressful environment [here] right now.” With various big-ticket spending items looming in the next decade, there is renewed debate over plans for a 100-aircraft Gripen fleet. The timing and scope of the...

Securing Tranche 3 was a victory of sorts for Eurofighter in production of the Typhoon: It guarantees additional work to 2016, but the procurement number is less than half of that originally agreed. Wrapped in the fig leaf of a split-buy, London, rapidly made it clear that there was unlikely to be a further purchase commitment beyond Tranche 3A. Funding pressures and changing circumstances are working to undermine the offtake numbers of the umbrella contract. While the Typhoon program exemplifies the vicissitudes of collaborative development, it is providing the four partner nations—Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.K.—with a highly capable...