Sixth-generation European fighter projects (and who gets the plum industrial work of avionics, EW, radar and engines) will not be the only international faultlines in defence at the show, despite the afterglow of the NATO 70 and D-Day 75 anniversaries this year highlighting military alliances.
Can you operate F-35s and S400 SAMs? We are about to find out. (Lockheed Martin)
In particular, the F-35 international programme may be on the verge of kicking one significant partner out, thanks to Turkey’s determination to press ahead with the acquisition of Russian-made S400 SAM systems.
Meanwhile, Turkey, a growing aerospace nation in its own right in UAVs, trainers and helicopters, is not taking this lying down and at the show will be exhibiting a mock-up of its TAI TF-X sixth-generation combat aircraft. In then nearer term, if Turkey does get booted out, this will have industrial and geopolitical implications – especially if the country then decides to double down and acquire Russian (Su-57) or Chinese (J-31) stealth fighters in place of the F-35.