Spain Shelves F-35 Purchase Amid Sovereignty Concerns, NATO Allies Cut Orders
Spain has indefinitely canceled its F-35 acquisition over intellectual property concerns, while several NATO partners have reduced their fleet commitments as costs climb and diplomatic tensions rise.
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II program has encountered an unexpected wave of order reductions and cancellations throughout 2026, with participating nations citing rising costs, intellectual property restrictions, and concerns over American control of critical systems. The fifth-generation stealth fighter, designed as a universal platform for the United States and its allies, has faced pushback primarily from North Atlantic Treaty Organization members reconsidering their commitments.
Spain formally canceled its F-35 procurement plans in August 2025, according to a report, determining that operating an aircraft where the United States retains ultimate oversight of software code and parts distribution posed unacceptable risks to sovereign military operations. The Spanish Defense Ministry redirected its modernization budget toward European defense initiatives, committing 85 percent of new defense funds exclusively to continental programs.
The decision creates a significant operational challenge for Spain's naval aviation capability. The Spanish Navy must retire its McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II jump jets by 2030, and the F-35B represents the only short take-off and vertical landing fighter currently in production capable of operating from the flagship amphibious assault ship Juan Carlos I. Without a replacement platform, Spain will lose its fixed-wing carrier strike capability entirely.
"The cancellation is very worrying for Europe," Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said, according to the Kyiv Post. Spain has implemented emergency funding to extend the operational life of its aging F-18 fleet until a long-term solution emerges.
Beyond Spain's complete withdrawal, multiple partner nations have scaled back their F-35 orders. The United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, and Australia have all reduced planned fleet sizes as program costs continue to escalate. Canada is reportedly reconsidering its commitment despite having placed an initial order. Portugal has also withdrawn from the program entirely, joining Spain in citing concerns over American control mechanisms.
The diplomatic friction has been compounded by disagreements over defense spending targets. While Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez committed to meeting NATO's standard two-percent GDP defense expenditure requirement, he rejected pressure from former US President Donald Trump to adopt a long-term five-percent spending goal.