Macron urges Europe to rethink US arms deals: Push for local defense

France is one of the countries advocating for Europe's security to be based on regional military equipment and local security guarantees. Emmanuel Macron had already suggested that French nuclear deterrence forces could extend their protection to European allies. Now he has announced their modernization. Paris plans to increase orders for Rafale fighters, which are capable of carrying nuclear weapons. It will also invest 1.6 billion US dollars in the Luxeuil-les-Bains airbase in eastern France, which plays a crucial role for the French air force.

- The world we live in is becoming increasingly dangerous and uncertain – argued Macron during a visit to Luxeuil-les-Bains on March 18 - Our country and our continent must continue to defend, equip, and prepare themselves if we want to avoid war - he warned.

According to Macron, the defense of the continent should primarily be based on solutions available in this part of the world. – Those who purchase Patriots should be offered the French-Italian next-generation SAMP/T. Those who buy F-35s should be offered the Rafale – he stated earlier in an interview with the Le Parisien newspaper. In his view, this approach will help build a European defense system that becomes less dependent on Washington's current priorities and choices.

The fifth-generation F-35 fighters, offered by the American company Lockheed Martin, had been considered one of the best choices for Western air forces looking to build a modern fleet of aircraft. This machine, which truly has no direct competitor in its class, excluding what Russia and China have to offer (although there are doubts here), is nevertheless losing popularity.

Portugal has recently withdrawn from purchasing F-35 fighters. Canada is also seeking alternatives to these machines because its relations with the USA deteriorated after Donald Trump took office in the White House. Ottawa initially planned to acquire 88 such machines, but the agreement is currently undergoing a detailed review. Concerns from current, future, and potential F-35 users relate to potential blocking of access to components, software issues, or the possibility of "disabling" the fighters by Washington.

As reminded by Defense One, Lockheed Martin clearly denies the existence of such an option. There is also no evidence of a "switch" that would allow grounding the F-35 fleet. In one of its press releases, published on March 10 and related to Swiss fighters, the company emphasized that "remote control" or "blocking" of F-35A fighters, for example, through external electronics interventions, is impossible.

Lockheed Martin also added that "Switzerland does not need consent if it wants to use its weapon systems or guided missiles for its defence. It can do this autonomously, independently, and at any time." Similar principles are said to apply to other F-35 users. However, not everyone is convinced. Some are already looking for potential replacements.

For instance, Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair announced a review of other offers available on the market, and among the possible options, French Rafales are being mentioned. These are generation 4.5 fighters, considered one of the best machines of this type being developed in Europe. How do Dassault Rafale compare to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II?

French and American fighters differ primarily in concept, purpose, and technological advancement. This stems mainly from the countries' different design philosophies and distinct approaches to the modern battlefield. Both machines are described as multi-role and capable of performing various roles. However, the undeniable advantage of the F-35, regardless of the type of mission, is its stealth technology, which many experts point out.

The Rafale, while featuring some solutions that reduce its radar detectability, as designers ensured a low radar cross-section (RCS) through the appropriate fuselage shape and the use of radar-absorbing materials, is not a stealth aircraft in the full sense of the word. The French fighter was not built from the ground up with the aim of minimal detectability as the F-35 was.

Both Rafale and F-35 can carry an impressive arsenal of weapons. The former can carry MICA air-to-air missiles, modern long-range Meteor missiles, AASM Hammer guided bombs, and SCALP-EG cruise missiles. Importantly, the French fighter is also adapted to carry nuclear weapons — ASMP-A missiles, making it one of the pillars of France's nuclear triad.

It is worth noting that the F-35 carries weapons internally in stealth mode, minimizing its detectability by enemy radars. In the "non-stealth" configuration, however, it can carry a wide range of mounted weapons. It can use, for example, AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, JDAM bombs, or systems for combating ground targets. The F-35A version, the one which Poland is also awaiting delivery of, is certified to carry American B61-12 nuclear bombs.

As multi-role fighters, Rafale and F-35 can perform similar tasks. However, the F-35 has an advantage in terms of stealth, and also in integration with modern network-centric warfare systems. Rafale, on the other hand, is more favorable in terms of cost and maintenance. It is cheaper to operate, and its systems are more open to modifications by the user. Undoubtedly, these machines cannot be considered equal, and they cannot be regarded as full replacements for one another. Therefore, choosing between them is not easy, but in the current situation, it may be driven by operational and political priorities rather than purely technical parameters.