American general warns: Manufacturer does not adhere to the construction of the F-35. UN human rights activists are very concerned about Uighur children in China

Tough times for the American superjet F-35: A week after half of America made fun of a “missing” plane that eventually crashed abandoned in South Carolina, serious doubts are being raised about the production capacity of manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

“I think Lockheed will have to increase production to meet international demand. The number of orders already exceeds current production capacity,” said Lieutenant General Richard Moore in an interview with the specialist portal “Breaking Defense”.

The deputy chief of planning of the US Air Force gives concrete figures. In order to be able to build the more than 2,500 F-35s ordered worldwide in time over the next fourteen years, Lockheed would have to produce at least 180 machines per year. The current, just increased maximum capacity is only 156.

Moreover, not all built machines can be delivered on time. In this year’s installment, software problems are causing delivery delays, meaning only 100 to 120 aircraft will leave the factory, according to the manufacturer. For the manufacturer, this means a loss of no less than 350 million dollars this year.

New orders are coming in all the time

Above all, the demand for multi-role combat aircraft is constantly increasing; both from existing customers and new ones. Ten days ago, South Korea ordered another 25 machines in addition to the 40 machines already in use. In the summer, Israel also ordered 25 aircraft to expand its existing F-35 fleet to 75.

Finally, today the Romanian government submitted to Parliament an application for 5.93 billion francs for the purchase of 32 aircraft. Romania is the fourth new customer since the Russian attack on Ukraine. So far, 22 countries have purchased or ordered the F-35, including Switzerland, and according to military experts the buyer potential is far from exhausted; especially not in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Although manufacturer Lockheed Martin assures Breaking Defense that it is evaluating ways to increase capacity, such announcements are met with skepticism in expert circles. A significant expansion of production lines is an enormously complex project, because not only Lockheed Martin, but also the many suppliers of individual components – such as the engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney – would have to increase their production.

According to American aviation expert Richard Aboulafia, the transition to increasing production will take years and be associated with economic risks. The state-of-the-art sixth-generation fighter jets are expected to be unveiled starting in 2030, and potential F-35 customers will then be able to switch to the new product.

Is the US prioritizing its own orders?

Given the major production bottlenecks, American General Richard Moore has only three options: either the regular customer USA places its own orders, so that foreign customers receive their planes on time. Or the US will prioritize its own machines, then other countries will have to wait. Or Lockheed Martin actually manages to increase output to complete all orders on time.

Switzerland could also be affected by the second scenario. Deliveries will not be made after orders are received, but rather as the US Department of Defense Pentagon deems appropriate. Switzerland also had to place its order for 36 machines for 6,035 billion francs with the US government, and not directly with the manufacturer Lockheed Martin.

Despite current signals to the contrary, both Lockheed Martin and Armasuisse recently assured the Tages-Anzeiger that Switzerland would receive its F-35 between 2027 and 2030, as agreed. We are “on track in terms of time”. However, as the “Tages-Anzeiger” further wrote, Switzerland has no option to demand a contractual penalty if the US actually delivers later than contractually agreed. (bzbasel.ch)