Austria weighs F-35 purchase as Eurofighter fleet nears retirement

During a guided tour of Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth complex, Austrian journalists saw the massive production floor where roughly 140 F-35 jets are assembled each year. Austria’s current Eurofighter fleet of 15 aircraft will reach the end of its service life in the mid-2030s, prompting a plan to acquire 36 next-generation fighters. The F-35 is being evaluated alongside other options such as the Eurofighter, Saab Gripen, Rafale, F-16, KF-21 and Kaan, with decisions expected after a financing review.

Lockheed emphasized the program’s global supply network, noting that about a quarter of each jet’s value is generated in Europe, and discussed potential industrial partnerships with Austrian firms. The company also acknowledged production setbacks caused by supply-chain bottlenecks and software development overruns. Austria’s defence ministry stresses that the choice will affect both national security and industrial policy ahead of the 2029 parliamentary elections.