Europe Considers Its Own Fighter Jets Due To US Policy On F-35

US-made fighter jet T-35 (@usamry)

JAKARTA - NATO member countries in Europe now have extra reasons to develop their own sixth-generation fighter jets after US government policies made them unsure they could get the F-35, Newsweek reports.

Quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, May 4, US President Donald Trump often criticized Europe for their low contribution to the defense capabilities of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He demanded that all members of the defense pact increase their defense budget by up to five percent of GDP.

Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the US had no plans to reduce its military presence in Europe.

According to74k, the uncertainty about the US-made F-35 fighter jet prompted Europe to develop their sixth-generation fighter jet program on its own. The goal is to reduce the continent's dependence on Washington.

To the US media, an official in Central Europe who does not want to be named said that NATO countries in Europe hope that more countries are interested in participating in developing the new generation of fighter jets.

Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said interest in Europe's sixth-generation fighter jets would definitely increase, especially after Trump was re-elected.

"The push for projects that are all-European in nature will definitely increase," Landsbergis told risk.

It was also reported that the sixth-generation fighter jet was expected to start use in the mid-2030s.

Earlier, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said that currently there is no alternative other than the F-35, and the cancellation of the contract could damage relations with the US.

In December 2022, Japan, Italy and the UK agreed to jointly develop next-generation fighter jets by 2035 through the Global Combat Air program.

The aircraft is expected to be one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world, which will replace F2 in Japan and Eurofighter Typhoon in Italy and England.

Previously, the Japanese Cabinet approved the easing of regulation on export of defense equipment so that the country could send the fighter jets to third countries.