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Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Canada defense review makes case for sticking with F-35 jets, sources say
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft is seen at the ILA Air Show in Berlin, Germany, April 25, 2018. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt/File Photo OTTAWA - Canadian defense officials have strongly made the case that Ottawa should stick to a plan to buy 88 Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets rather than splitting the order, two sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday. The review stops short of making a formal recommendation, one of the sources said. The final decision rests with the Liberal government of Prime Minister Mark Carney, said the sources, who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the situation. Carney, who won the April election on a promise to stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump, had requested the review by military officials in March on the grounds that Canada was over-reliant on the U.S. defense industry. Ottawa has made a legal commitment of funds for the first 16 F-35 aircraft. Although Carney made clear in March that Canada could seriously look at buying the remaining 72 planes from non-U.S. companies, the Defense Ministry review concluded there was no military sense in splitting the order. The F-35 is the most advanced fighter of its type, and buying another jet from a European rival would incur extra costs in training, supplies, and maintenance. The Canadian Armed Forces are highly integrated with their U.S. counterparts. Sticking to the original plan could remove a potential irritant in relations with the United States at a moment when talks on a new trade and security relationship have stalled. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Liquor licences for F&B, nightlife venues extended to 4am in Boat Quay, Clarke Quay Singapore Chikungunya cases in Singapore double; authorities monitoring situation closely Singapore Student found with vape taken to hospital after behaving aggressively in school; HSA investigating Asia Cambodia, Thailand agree on Asean observers monitoring truce, but fundamental differences remain Asia Trump ratchets up tariff pressure on India, sparking despair among exporters and growth fears Singapore CDC and SG60 vouchers listed on e-commerce platforms will be taken down: CDCs Asia Australia's purchase of Japanese frigates signals a new era for Indo-Pacific security Singapore Some ageing condos in Singapore struggle with failing infrastructure, inadequate sinking funds Since winning the election, Carney has softened his tone, noting that despite U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, and cars, Canada is in a good position compared to other nations facing higher tariffs. In a statement, the office of Defence Minister David McGuinty reiterated that Canada planned to buy 88 fighter jets. "We are committed to procuring what the air force needs, while ensuring economic benefits for Canadians and the responsible use of taxpayer dollars," it said. Carney's office declined to comment. Canada announced plans to buy the F-35s in 2010, but a switch in governments, rule changes for aircraft procurement, as well as challenges from the pandemic, triggered major delays. REUTERS
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Spain rules out buying F-35, choosing between Eurofighter or FCAS
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: A Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jet performs during the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA on the opening day at Schoenefeld Airport in Berlin, Germany June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt/File Photo MADRID - Spain is no longer considering the option of buying U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets and is choosing between European-made Eurofighter and the so-called Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a defence ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday. El Pais newspaper had reported earlier on Wednesday the government had shelved plans to buy the F-35, which is manufactured by U.S. aerospace giant Lockheed Martin. The government had earmarked 6.25 billion euros ($7.24 billion) in its 2023 budget to buy new fighter jets, El Pais said. But the Spanish government's plan to spend most of the additional 10.5 billion euros for defence this year in Europe made it impossible to acquire U.S.-made fighter jets, the newspaper reported. Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced plans earlier this year to increase spending on defence to meet the current NATO target of 2% of gross domestic product this year, and later refused to raise spending to 5% in the longer run. Sanchez's position was heavily criticized by U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to impose additional tariffs on the country's goods. Spokespeople for Lockheed Martin and the U.S. embassy in Madrid did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Recent rail disruptions disappointing and 'we can and will do better': Jeffrey Siow Singapore 'It's either my life or the dog's': NSF rescues lost dog which was hit by car in Bedok Singapore Migrant workers who saved driver from sinkhole get SCDF awards, mobile data and goodie bags Singapore 81 primary schools to hold ballot for Phase 2C of Primary 1 registration Singapore COE premiums rise in all categories except motorcycles; Cat B at $123,498, highest since Dec 2023 Singapore 19 drivers nabbed over illegal ride-hailing services in Singapore and across border with Malaysia World A 'Huawei moment' looms as US gears up to sell AI-in-a-box to South-east Asia Singapore Man recruited victim to open bank account, forced him to drink urine after account was frozen Eurofighter is manufactured by Airbus, BAE systems and Leonardo, while FCAS is being developed by Dassault Aviation, Airbus and Indra Sistemas. REUTERS
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Spain shelves plans to buy F-35 fighter jets, El Pais reports
FILE PHOTO: A Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jet performs during the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA on the opening day at Schoenefeld Airport in Berlin, Germany June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt/File Photo MADRID (Reuters) -Spain has shelved plans to buy F-35 fighter jets, manufactured by U.S. aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, El Pais newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing unidentified government sources. The government had earmarked 6.25 billion euros ($7.24 billion) in its 2023 budget to buy new fighter jets, El Pais said. But the Spanish government's plan to spend most of the additional 10.5 billion euros for defence this year in Europe made it impossible to acquire U.S.-made fighter jets, the newspaper reported. Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced plans earlier this year to increase spending on defence to meet the current NATO target of 2% of gross domestic product, and later refused to raise spending to 5% during a summit in June. Sanchez's position was heavily criticized by U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to impose additional tariffs o the country's goods Spokespeople for Spain's Defence Ministry and for Lockheed Martin did not immediately respond to requests for comment. ($1 = 0.8634 euros) (Reporting by Inti Landauro; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Germany has no plans to buy additional F-35 fighter jets, defence ministry says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: A Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jet performs during the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA on the opening day at Schoenefeld Airport in Berlin, Germany June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt/File photo BERLIN - Germany has no plans to procure additional F-35 fighter jets, a defence ministry spokesperson said on Friday, denying a Politico report that the country planned to grow its planned fleet to 50. So far, Germany has ordered 35 of the U.S.-made jets to replace a total of 85 ageing Tornado fighter jets that will be decommissioned. "The defence ministry currently has no plans to procure additional F-35s beyond the 35 F-35s already contractually agreed," the spokesperson said at a regular news conference. A military source told Reuters that the figure of 15 additional F-35 jets had been part of previous considerations, but that the numbers needed to be adapted after NATO's new targets for weapons and troop numbers. The new targets suggest the initial figure was not large enough and the actual number of additional F-35s needed might be bigger in the end, although the source would not confirm this. The Politico report comes amid tensions between Germany and France on the joint Franco-German fighter jet FCAS partnership after a report earlier this week that France now wants a workshare of 80%. The demand would scrap the agreed division of tasks and possibly stop the project from entering its next phase, an industry source told Reuters. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Nuclear safety research gets boost with new institute, $66m funding as S'pore weighs energy viability Singapore Man who killed 5-year-old daughter gets life sentence after he appeals against 35-year jail term Singapore Judge declines to void alleged sham marriage in S'pore, says it is for Parliament to decide Business OCBC CEO Helen Wong to retire on Dec 31; Tan Teck Long named successor Singapore More than 14,300 people checked during 7-week-long anti-crime ops Opinion The unspoken reason people sometimes quit their jobs: Loneliness Singapore S'porean who defaulted on NS obligations used fake Malaysian passports at checkpoints over 800 times Business CEO salaries: At Singapore's top companies, whose pay went up and whose saw a drop? German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday that differences remained on the configuration of the FCAS project, which has been plagued by delays and infighting over workshare and intellectual property rights. REUTERS
Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Germany plans to buy additional 15 F-35 fighter jets, Politico reports
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: A Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jet performs during the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA on the opening day at Schoenefeld Airport in Berlin, Germany June 5, 2024. REUTERS/Axel Schmidt/File photo BERLIN - Germany plans to buy 15 additional F-35 fighter jets, Politico reported on Friday citing several people familiar with the matter, a move that would increase the country's planned fleet of the U.S.-made jet to 50. The report comes amid tensions between Germany and France on the joint Franco-German fighter jet FCAS project, after a report earlier this week that France now wants a workshare of 80%. The German defence ministry did not immediately responded to a request for comment from Reuters. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday that differences remained on the configuration of the project, which has been plagued by delays and infighting over workshare and intellectual property rights. Should France stick to its demand, the resulting differences among project partners would make it unlikely that the project could enter its next phase as scheduled by the end of this year, an industry source told Reuters. REUTERS
