>>64159486
>Protip: None of the countries looking into fcas development will buy a significant f35 fleet. It doesn't make sense, not even as a temporary patch for the 4th gen - > 6th gen skip.
Let's be honest, it's because none of them can afford a significant F-35 fleet. I would say, though, for the size of Germany's AF 35 F-35s already ordered, with the potential to increase that number to 50, is a pretty significant fleet. Wouldn't you say? It's nearly 16% of their total fighter fleet (not counting the potential extra 15 they may order). If you want to only go by German fighters that are combat capable, that number is 39 EFs, and 26 Tornados, for a grand total of 65 combat capable fighters out of their fleet of 221. So, that order of 35 F-35s compromises 54% of Germany's combat capable fighter fleet. Seems pretty significant, to me. No? Frogs will never buy the F-35 because they're asshurt frogs, and it would destroy that unearned sense of superiority they have. Spain is too poor to afford F-35s, so that was never really an option for them.

But, let's be honest: the FCAS program is going to fail, or it's going to be a shell of what the program claims, and will be a basic 5th gen larping as a 6th gen. Why in the fuck is Germany going to but a carrier capable fighter when they have no carrier, and can't afford to keep their fleet of EFs airworthy anyway? And how are they going to afford a $150 million fighter designed for carriers just to appease frogs? Spain, again, is too poor to afford the F-35, they're definitely not going to afford the FCAS (if by so chance a miracle occurs and the FCAS fighter is actually built) that will cost at least $150 million per unit. The same for France, how are they going to afford a $150 million fighter? Just hoe many of them can Germany, France, and Spain afford? The FCAS program was doomed to fail from the start.