At the 55th International Paris Air Show, Lockheed Martin shared significant updates on the F-35 Lightning II multirole fighter aircraft program. During a special press briefing organized by the company, notable progress was announced regarding F-35 procurement and production activities across Europe.
Italy Orders 25 Additional F-35s
The most striking development was the Italian government’s decision to increase its existing order by 25 aircraft. This additional order includes 15 F-35A and 10 F-35B variants, raising Italy’s total F-35 fleet to 115. This move positions Italy as one of the largest F-35 operators in Europe.
Austria Officially Begins Talks
In addition to ongoing procurement discussions with Portugal and Spain, Lockheed Martin revealed that Austria has now officially entered into talks regarding F-35 purchase options. Austria is considering the F-35 as a successor to its Eurofighter fleet to modernize and strengthen its defense capabilities.
Increasing Local Production Capacity in Europe
Although the F-35 program is US-originated, it is increasingly becoming a Europe-made platform. Germany-based Rheinmetall supplies the mid-body modules for each F-35, while Finland’s Patria has made significant advancements in producing forward fuselage sections. Preparations are also in the final stages to begin delivering control system components from Belgium.
When combined with the assembly line at Cameri in Italy, this local production involvement shows that a significant portion of the F-35s delivered to European operators is manufactured by European industry.
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