Originally Posted by
Just This Once...
In the 'fair and open' world of F-35 competitive contracts has, unsurprisingly, favoured US companies that enjoy more favourable terms - particularly with USD pricing. That these contracts have been spread out to encompass almost every state in the US is fortuitous for LM. When LM claims to congressmen and governors that the F-35 will bring money to their electorate they are not fibbing. When LM claim that partner nations could also attract large contracts the truth may be something different.
Given the likely overall projected buy, it would be logical that US companies would get the lions share, but just as LM has done a good job at involving numerous congressional districts, they have also built an impressive list of foreign producers as well. It was quite clear early in the program if you wanted to get on board you had better do so- this was going to be a partner program from the start- and to play you had to buy into the program. LM and EVERY country involved has tied production considerations/jobs to the program as well. I am sure the good folks at Cameri and Nagoya assembling the jets, and hundreds of other places around the globe, are happy to have the jobs, and their politicians are working just as hard to bring home the bacon (except Trudeau perhaps
)