Lockheed says F-35 would not be a ‘black box’ for Portugal
In an interview with ECO, Lockheed Martin said an F-35 purchase by Portugal would include shared software updates and local maintenance, as Lisbon weighs replacing its F-16s.
Lockheed Martin guarantees that if Portugal buys F-35 fighter jets to replace its F-16s, the aircraft would not be a technological “black box” under US control. The issue matters as Lisbon has yet to launch the replacement process and is weighing US and European options at a time when Brussels is pushing for more defence procurement from European industry.
Rob Weitzman, Lockheed Martin’s director of international business development for the F-35 and the executive leading the company’s campaign in Portugal, said in an interview with ECO that software upgrades are shared across all countries in the programme rather than controlled on a country-by-country basis.
“If there is a software problem, everyone faces that problem, not just one country or another,” he told ECO, rejecting concerns over a so-called “kill switch”. He also said Portuguese technicians would be able to maintain the aircraft.
Weitzman argued that the F-35 should not be seen as only an American product, saying more than 25% of the value of each aircraft comes from components made in Europe. He said the programme relies on European industrial support, including companies such as Leonardo, Rheinmetall and BAE, and added that Portugal would join that ecosystem if it became the 21st country in the programme.
The comments come after an internal Portuguese Air Force report identified the F-35 as its preferred option. Defence Minister Nuno Melo has said no decision has been taken and the replacement process has not yet started. Weitzman said the US government has still not received a formal request from Portugal, but Lockheed is already engaging with Portuguese industry and sees 16 projects as potential opportunities for local companies.
Originally published at Eco.pt