Gulf Buyers Eye Future Purchases Of Lockheed's F-35 Jet

[BLACKEAGLE]

Gulf buyers are nearing decisions to buy more current generation fighter jets, but the buzz at the Dubai Airshow was about Lockheed Martin Corp’s (LMT.N) radar-evading F-35 fighter - a plane not yet operational and not even on display there.

The U.S. government sent a big delegation to this year’s show, eager to reassure Gulf leaders about their continued commitment to the region despite policy differences over Syria and Iran and signs that Egypt is looking at buying Russian weapons after a slowdown in U.S. military aid.

For the first time, U.S. government and industry officials also spoke about the process under way to allow the sale of the Lockheed jet to the Gulf - probably about five years after Israel receives its first F-35 fighter jets in 2016.

One Gulf source familiar with the region’s defense market said the F-35 was generating a degree of excitement even before any U.S. decision to allow its sale to Gulf buyers.

The possibility that the F-35 aircraft might become available could explain why Gulf countries are taking their time with decisions on purchases of other fighters, the source said.

Heidi Grant, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for international programs, said Gulf buyers were focused on buying additional fourth-generation jets but were clearly interested in the F-35 - a so-called “fifth-generation” warplane that is designed to be nearly invisible to enemy radar.

“They’re just asking me to monitor it, and when it becomes available let (them) know,” Grant told Reuters in an interview. “They understand that we haven’t made a policy decision to open up in this region right now.”



Gulf Buyers Eye Future Purchases Of F-35

 

[Falcon29]

Get the one the UK is getting I think the F-35 A

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

Get the one the UK is getting I think the F-35 A

LoL No GCC country ever stated that they will go after the F-35

 

[Luftwaffe]

Not the best time to buy and there is no hurry, specially RSAF hands are full and the requirements have been fulfilled with F-15s and Typhoons, wait until atleast 10 Years before production line eases and all the glitches are resolved. It seems as if US Government boat is sinking fast. Personally I would even want RSAF look else where into Chinese Aircraft, the J-20 could become product of choice as Chinese are excelling fast in the field of electronics.

Although the thread is no appropriate for the topic as we are seeing US shifting towards Iran, RSA should invest more with China.

 

[haman10]

a plane not yet operational and not even on display there.

why f-35 ? buy f-22 or t-50

dreamers .

 

[T-123456]

LoL No GCC country ever stated that they will go after the F-35

You have enough fighter planes(more Typhoons coming) for now,its better to wait for the TFX.

 

[Sinnerman108]

This more and more looks more and more stupid.

 

[al-Hasani]

You have enough fighter planes(more Typhoons coming) for now,its better to wait for the TFX.

Yes, we already have one of the regions most potent air forces measured solely on equipment.

No need for that, indeed.

 

[Arabian Legend]

Single engine isn't what the RSAF prefer, I think we should stick to the F-15 and the EF for now.

 

[Sinnerman108]

Single engine isn't what the RSAF prefer, I think we should stick to the F-15 and the EF for now.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

For a quarter of that money, you could put your knee on their throats and demand full production in house.

Instead of buying palaces, why not buy Lockheed or at least a major enough part of it ?

 

[EMERCOM]

What use is the F-35 against the nuclear missiles of Israel.Israel can singlehandedly crush the GCC.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

For a quarter of that money, you could put your knee on their throats and demand full production in house.

Instead of buying palaces, why not buy Lockheed or at least a major enough part of it ?

We already opened a Saudi-owned branch of Lockheed..

What use is the F-35 against the nuclear missiles of Israel.Israel can singlehandedly crush the GCC.

LoLz. Since 1948, Israel never fired a single bullet at us, you warmongering freak.

 

[Falcon29]

It's funny that Israel will be receiving the first batch and they had not put any funding in the program while the UK has put the most out of all international partners in this project.

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

It's funny that Israel will be receiving the first batch and they had not put any funding in the program while the UK has put the most out of all international partners in this project.

They are going to get 20 F-35 for their funding participation in the program - which was $15 million -

But still, Israel has to buy for them - either in subsidies or freebies - and training.


Thank God we never asked for these F-35s.. Their program sucked billions of dollars away..

 

[Falcon29]

They are going to get 20 F-35 for their funding participation in the program - which was $15 million -

But still, Israel has to buy for them - either in subsidies or freebies - and training.


Thank God we never asked for these F-35s.. Their program sucked billions of dollars away..

Are they actually paying for them or is the US Congress doing so? Their reasoning is that it creates industrial jobs so we get something in return. Which is bogus. All the planes being constructed create jobs and every other country is paying the price.