Intel Report
As a new wave of fighter competitions take shape across Europe, Alan Warnes assesses the different nations’ requirements.
Much of Europe’s fighter business in recent years has focused on the Lockheed Martin F-35 – between them, seven of NATO’s more established states have expressed a current requirement for 478. European operators have sought the Joint Strike Fighter in government-to-government deals and most customers have cited interoperability with other NATO nations as a major reason for acquisition.
With different fighter competitions now under way across Europe, it’s hard to predict where the next contract will land. Neither Switzerland (seeking 30-40 new fighters) or Finland (64) are in NATO and both have local requirements including road-base operations which might not favour the F-35. Many Eastern European air forces simply can’t afford the F-35. Germany looked at the F-35 as an option to replace its Tornado fleet but dropped it from the running on January 31 (see Finding Germany’s future fighter, p42-45).
Early Gripen wins
Eastern Europe’s fighter landscape is being transformed as more countries migrate from the Soviet fighters they were flying when communism collapsed.
Saab scored…
