• fullsquare@awful.systems
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    12 hours ago

    it’s not listed because this is not what is happening

    italy for example put bridge construction in that military budget (as critical infrastructure)

    also the subtext was “spend that defense budget in america” and this is not happening either for variety of reasons, so it’s partial failure already for them

    • Gsus4@mander.xyz
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      12 hours ago

      “spend that defense budget in america”

      hah, yeah, that part is hilarious. tramp already ruined the f35 program by suggesting that the ones sold to allies would come with degraded specs…why sink funding in something that you can only use with american permission exclusively for their stupid wars?

      • fullsquare@awful.systems
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        10 hours ago

        there’s a couple of big failures in american defense industry (like shipbuilding) but F35 is not one of them. the alleged killswitch is not likely a thing because first, it could be used by the most probable adversary, and they already shown capability in EW; and second, it’s not necessary because it requires constant stream of spare parts and maintenance. as if it’s worth it, ask any remaining iranian radar operator for firsthand opinion

        some countries switched to euro made jets anyway, but these aren’t likely to be doing the job that F35 is cut to do anyway (SEAD)

        there’s already euro alternative in development, for which americans were explicitly not invited (GCAP, FCAS). there’s also the everything else part of military, half of euro countries make now artillery (both tube and rocket) so these can be bought locally too

        • Gsus4@mander.xyz
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          11 hours ago

          Yes, but israel gets the F35I variant. They are probably independent in software, targetting (and parts?), because israel as the US golden child always gets the juiciest deals. The EU, meanwhile, gets the “leeches, warmongers, pathetic freeloaders” treatment.