Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)

[WatcherZero]

What exactly did Portugal announce and what are they now walking back? Looks like its walking back "plans to buy F-35 in the future"..So not even sure of whether they were at the LOI stage or left of that.

They selected F-35 and had commenced service integration talks with Lockheed Martin and the USAF to prepare their armed forces for its introduction (training, procurement, logistics chain, basing requirements, etc..). Lockheed Martin had deployed staff to Monte Real air base to assess infrastructure requirements for the aircraft. They hadn't placed a signed order for airframes but they weren't considering any alternatives.

 

[bring_it_on]

They selected F-35 and had commenced service integration talks with Lockheed Martin and the USAF to prepare their armed forces for its introduction (training, procurement, logistics chain, basing requirements, etc..). Lockheed Martin had deployed staff to Monte Real air base to assess infrastructure requirements for the aircraft. They hadn't placed a signed order for airframes but they weren't considering any alternatives.

In actual contractual terms where were they in the process*? Source selection? Formal LOI to GOTUS, approved FMS case? Signed Contract? If it is left of LOI, they were effectively just getting started so hardly a 'cancellation'. Any process that's left of that can be walked backwards and re-started at a future date if things change.

*In other words, what was the probability of a signed contract in 2 years? 5 years?

 

[Sintra]

In actual contractual terms where were they in the process*? Source selection? Formal LOI to GOTUS, approved FMS case? Signed Contract? If it is left of LOI, they were effectively just getting started so hardly a 'cancellation'. Any process that's left of that can be walked backwards and re-started at a future date if things change.

*In other words, what was the probability of a signed contract in 2 years? 5 years?

Left of LOI.
Chances of signed contract in 2 years, slightly better (but just slightly...) than a signed contract with Iran. In 5 years, possible but i wouldnt make a bet on it.

 

[TomcatViP]

In other words, at the end of the present US administration, they will be at the same point as of today... Canceling was a cheap thing to do, without the burden of any consequences but made them the hero of a day. In 4 years, they would be able to reopen negotiations without much if any delays in their overall plans.

Internet is gaining traction in politics.

 

[sferrin]

I other words, at the end of the present US administration, they will be at the same point as of today... Canceling was a cheap thing to do, without the burden of any consequences but made them the hero of a day. In 4 years, they would be able to reopen negotiations without much if any delays in their overall plans.

Internet is gaining traction in politics.

Orange Hitler & Spaceman Hitler tend to make people irrational.

 

[yeetmahboi]

I other words, at the end of the present US administration, they will be at the same point as of today... Canceling was a cheap thing to do, without the burden of any consequences but made them the hero of a day. In 4 years, they would be able to reopen negotiations without much if any delays in their overall plans.

Internet is gaining traction in politics.

If that's their plan, they better hope Vance isn't the big P next round. Slim chance, maybe? But none as an absolute zero.

 

[WatcherZero]

In actual contractual terms where were they in the process*? Source selection? Formal LOI to GOTUS, approved FMS case? Signed Contract? If it is left of LOI, they were effectively just getting started so hardly a 'cancellation'. Any process that's left of that can be walked backwards and re-started at a future date if things change.

*In other words, what was the probability of a signed contract in 2 years? 5 years?

In actual contract terms, Sole Source Selection. Meaning no multi-vendor bid tendering or open public procurement process required.

 

[had]

Suspect that the FAP F-16's are gonna do a "F-86" (fly until desintegration, the Sabre flew with the FAP til 1980).

For me, that makes sense. Portugal could ideally update some F-16s to the Block 70 standard but cancelling the F-35s and then getting Rafales or Typhoons wouldn’t make much sense – in my opionion.
The more rational solution would be to wait for the GCAP/Tempest with its presumably longer air policing range (Azores) than the already mentioned aircraft.

As to the hyped F-35 cancellation – I would start to be cautious if Switzerland and Finland would switch to other aircraft.