Striking a deal on the F-35: multinational politics and US defence acquisition

Abstract

Why does joint defence production of advanced weapons systems, which appears like a logical choice at first, become harder for both the primary production state and its allies to manage and justify as the acquisition process runs its course? To answer this question, we analyze the multinational politics of the F-35 JSF with a focus on how secondary states who have bought into the program are affected by domestic politics within the primary production state. We find that US congressional and bureaucratic politics, cuts to US defence spending, and a desire to retain tight control over the program has locked allies into a program with which they have little leverage. Potentially losing the ability to fight along side the US if they don’t follow through, coupled with inter-Alliance pressures, leaves secondary states who are involved with the F-35 program, vulnerable to the whims of US domestic politics.

Keywords:

• Procurement
• defence
• F-35

Notes

1. Although having joined the F-35 program in 2003, Singapore made the decision in August 2016 to postpone its acquisition of the F-35B.

2. See 2012–2013 special issue in International Journal by Srdjan Vucetic and Kim Nossal (co-editors).

3. See Michael E. O’Hanlon, “Technological Change and the Future of Warfare”. See also G. Michael Vickers and Robert Martinage, The Revolution in War.