Senators support expansion of F-35 program

A group of Republican senators led by U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) sent a letter on Aug. 6 to U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, asserting their support for the continued expansion of the F-35 joint strike fighter program.

“Since its inception over 25 years ago, the F-35 program has depended on an unprecedented level of defense manufacturing collaboration between the United States and its partners,” the letter said. “Far from simply being a product of the United States’ alliances, we believe the F-35 program today is a tool to strengthen these very alliances and help grow new ones. We therefore support the continued expansion of the F-35 program at a time when the United States must proactively seek out ways to mitigate the growing threats posed by our adversaries.”

Turkey left the F-35 program when it opted to purchase the Russian S-400 air defense missile system. Turkey originally had planned to purchase 100 F-35 joint strike fighters.

The F-35 partnership program has forecasted $2.2 trillion in partner and Foreign Military Sales (FMS). Expansion would mean increasing sales to countries already in the program or adding new FMS countries.

Joining Toomey in signing the letter were U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).