its a stupid logistical background which is the f35' biggest weakness

[Skybird]

In case of Germany it was a panic reaciton, due to the Americans "sharing" a few nuclear bombs with Germany who are planned for beign dleivered by Germna aircraft. But the Tornado is phase dout, and the Eurofighter was not cetrified, in pa rts due to lame Germna pltivcians, ion aprts to Americ adelaiyng it to make Germany buy the F35, which has a certification to deliver US nuclear bombs. Waiting for a new European fighter takes way too long, and whether the US would certify that then to carry US nukies is an unanswered, open question.



Money interests make the arms deals go round.



I would prefer to have the money invested into a bigger fleet of less scifi-like planes. Numbers count in war. The Refale. The Typhoon. The Gripen. I wud, even have given up the shared nukie arranegemntm since I think it is only show anyway. Or a desperate attenpt for a "guarantee" to keep the Americans in Germany, since Germany cannot defend itself at all.



But the Americans will leave Germany, and in the long term Europe, if that serves their interests best. And these interests could be defined by being fed up with European politics (Trumps' approach), or being overstretched with all these many global engagements and bases and the collision with China getting closer in time.



He who wants to defend everything will lose everything, said Sun Tzu. There will come the day when the US can no longer reject to realise this stratagem. The way it tries to deny it, is way too expensive and not sustainable anymore. See the costs for the F35 program. And keep in mind that the dollar is under attack to get pushed off the throne as the global primary and reserve currency. And when the world does not buy American debt bonds anymore - well, it will get "interesting", to say the least...