Photo: Sgt. Donald R. Allen/US Air Force
Against the backdrop of geopolitical instability and uncertainty in US foreign policy, particularly after the Donald Trump administration cut off military aid to Ukraine, European countries have stepped up efforts to gain greater military autonomy. This was reported byNewsweek.
Among the main initiatives is the development of its own sixth-generation fighter jet, which could in the future replace the US F-35 manufactured by Lockheed Martin, currently the only fifth-generation fighter available to NATO allies.
There is growing concern in Europe that the US could technically limit the use of the F-35, for example, through a “kill switch” or by stopping software updates. This raises concerns about the sovereignty of NATO member states’ military decisions.
Thus, the UK, Italy and Japan are jointly implementing the GCAP programme to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet that will allow partners to make decisions without external influence. The first such aircraft are expected to enter service in the mid-2030s.
Despite this, European states do not plan to abandon the F-35s they have already ordered, according to a Central European official, but the priority for the next two decades will be to reduce dependence on American air defence systems. In this context, the German Iris-T system is being actively considered as an alternative to Patriot.
Europe is not seeking a complete break, but rather a balancing act in its military partnerships, so that its security does not depend on the changing political winds in Washington.
