Published on August 18, 2025, 10:50 AM EDT – Key Points and Summary – Spain has officially rejected the American F-35, opting instead to invest in European platforms like the Eurofighter Typhoon and the sixth-generation Future Combat Air System (FCAS).
-The decision is seen as a strategic move to bolster European defense autonomy and comes amid trans-Atlantic tensions over NATO spending. However, the future of the multinational FCAS project is itself uncertain.
-The program is dogged by infighting, highlighted by Dassault’s CEO publicly criticizing Belgium for purchasing the F-35 while also seeking to be an FCAS partner, a feud that exposes a deepening rift in Europe’s defense procurement strategy.
Why Spain Just Turned Down the F-35 for Europe’s FCAS Program
Amid internal debates about the future of Europe’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, both the project and the contractors secured to deliver its next-generation fighter jet received good news from Spain this month.
The Spanish government confirmed in early August that it will not move forward with plans to procure the American F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter manufactured by Lockheed Martin, opting instead to invest in Europe’s FCAS program.
FCAS, a concept developed as part of the European Technology Acquisition Program (ETAP) that began in 2001, is a combat system of systems expected to deliver a Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS) and other air assets, including a sixth-generation jet fighter. An operational rollout for the proposed next-generation fighter is planned for 2040.
A spokesperson for the Spanish defense ministry confirmed the shift on August 6, though no reasons for the decision were given. That same spokesperson, however, confirmed that Spain will be looking to adopt the Eurofighter Typhoon platform, developed by Eurofighter GmbH and already in service in the British, German, Spanish, and Italian air forces, as well as FCAS.
Some analysts have theorized that Spain’s decision was motivated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s “antics,” with one MSNBC reporter suggesting the move was a result of the “lack of international confidence in the American president.” The claim carries some weight; President Trump’s pressure campaign to raise NATO defense spending commitments succeeded this year, with member states overwhelmingly supporting plans to raise spending goals to 5% of GDP. Spain, however, has been one of the most vocal opponents to the plan.
Despite the news from Spain this month, however, the future of FCAS remains somewhat uncertain.
European procurement of F-35s from the United States became a sticking point in recent weeks when the CEO of France’s Dassault Aviation publicly criticized the Belgian government for buying American aircraft while signaling interest in becoming an official FCAS partner.
Problems Persist, and Belgium Takes a Different Path
Belgium’s approach to procuring advanced aircraft contrasts quite sharply with that of Spain. While Madrid looks to European partners and FCAS, Brussels’ thinking has not changed.
The Belgian government originally planned to procure F-35s from the United States while also considering full partnership in Europe’s FCAS program – a move that drew criticism from Dassault CEO Eric Trappier.
Speaking during a quarterly earnings call, Dassault CEO Eric Trappier slammed Belgium for playing both sides, arguing that the country cannot become a full participating member of the project without fully committing to it.
“If [Belgium] gives up the idea of buying F-35s, they’d be welcome, if they are not, then that’s really making a monkey out of us,” Trappier said.
Rather than winning Brussels over, the backlash prompted Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken to push back, slamming Trappier and other contractors as “arrogant industrialists.”
The feud exposes a rift in Europe amid rising defense spending and aircraft procurement. Some nations are now evidently tempted by the prospect of investing in a readily available, continuously upgraded, and reliable American platform like the F-35, rather than committing to a program already dogged by infighting.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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