The state of the European fighter-jet market

Abstract

The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter built by Lockheed Martin in the United States is set to dominate the European fighter-jet market for the next two decades. The F-35, while costly to buy and maintain, outperforms current European models – the multinational Eurofighter Typhoon and aircraft made by Dassault and Saab – and has entered the market decades earlier than the European Future Combat Air System. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which prompted several European countries to announce unprecedented defence-spending increases, will further benefit the F-35 programme as countries consider making new acquisitions to strengthen their air forces.