NATO member states to buy 700 F-35 fighter jets from US

MOSCOW: NATO member states plan to buy a total of 700 F-35 fighter jets from the United States (US) as part of strengthening the alliance's military power, Sputnik/RIA Novosti reported.

AI Brief

1. NATO Allies plan to acquire at least 700 F-35 jets and expand air and missile defense by 400%, says Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Investment will include armoured vehicles, drones, long-range missiles, and cyber capabilities.
NATO may raise defense spending targets to 5% of GDP at the June summit, responding to US pressure.

"Allies will invest in more warships and aircraft. To give just one example, America's Allies will procure at least 700 F-35 fighter jets in total," NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Monday, speaking at a conference in London.

He again noted that NATO countries are falling behind Russia and China in military production and confirmed plans to increase spending on militarisation.

"Our militaries also need thousands more armoured vehicles and tanks. Millions more artillery shells ... We will also invest in more drones and long-range missile systems. And invest more in space and cyber-capabilities," Rutte said, adding that the alliance should increase its air and missile defence by 400 per cent.

In early May, the media reported Rutte's proposal that NATO allies increase their defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP and allocate another 1.5 per cent of GDP to additional defence needs to meet US President Donald Trump's demand for a 5 per cent target.

The minimum requirements are expected to be agreed upon at the NATO summit in The Hague on June 24-25.

-- BERNAMA