Global Defense Procurement and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

This book analyzes the development and evolution of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a multinational aircraft endeavor involving the U.S. and many of its allies. The author provides a historical overview of jet fighter aircraft, discussing the different generations of these planes and their technical characteristics, as well as an outline of emerging international geopolitical and security trends the F-35 may see combat in. By examining the role of defense industries, domestic politics, and governmental oversight of the Joint Strike Fighter in various countries, the author concludes that this aircraft will be deployed in most of these countries to replace their aging jet fighter fleets and combat potential military aggression from China, Russia, and other revisionist international powers.

“In Global Defense Procurement and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, author Bert Chapman sets out to ‘provide a history of the JSF from a comparative multinational perspective transcending the US-centric approach to the JSF’ … . In this, he has written a useful work that provides a succinct and valuable overview of the experiences of program participants.” (Steven J. Childs, Journal of Advanced Military Studies, Vol. 11 (1), 2020)

“The most comprehensive study published to date on the JSF programme as well as a comprehensive review of the studies conducted by the US Congressional Research Service (CRS) confirm that so far the programme has indeed been implemented according to this logic.” (Niccolò Petrelli, Istituto Affari Internazionali, Issue 1, 2020)

“This book is a serious attempt to unpack the story of the F-35. The research is thorough and the extensive reference list is a valuable resource. … The author has worked extensively from primary source material to pull together a more complete story than I’ve seen in one place before, and the reading list will keep anyone wanting to read into the F-35 program busy for a long time.” (Andrew Davies, Security Challenges, Vol. 15 (1), 2019)

“Bert Chapman should be commended for providing an effective and informative look at the program and its US and overseas procurement. … For readers interested in current defense procurement and students of airpower history broadly, Global Defense Procurement is a valuable and accessible resource. … it is a worthwhile and effective study pointing to the parallel conversations about the F-35 that take place in the US and among its allies.” (Nicholas Michael Sambaluk, ASPJ - Air & Space Power Journal, June 7, 2019)

“This book provides an excellent primer on the genesis and development of an essential capability which will underpin the hard edge of the UK’s combat air power now and in the immediate future. … this book should be compulsory reading for all those with a professional interest in either the F-35 or the procurement and acquisition stream.” (Al Byford, Air and Space Power, Vol. 22 (3), 2019)

Bert Chapman is Professor of Library Science, Government Information, U.S. History, and Political Science, and Sociology Librarian at Purdue University, USA. He has written five previous books and published numerous articles on international security topics.