F-35 weapons integration and industrial lock-in

Will Royal Navy F-35Bs adopt AIM-260, or continue pursuing British missile integration?

The preference expressed is for Meteor and its successors, while the discussion criticises the dependence on F-35 software and logistics arrangements for national weapons integration.

The preference expressed for British F-35 armament is Meteor and its successors, drawing on an existing domestic industrial capability. The discussion also values the F-35B's capabilities and the interoperability offered by shared support. Its criticism is that the same software and logistics arrangements give Lockheed Martin substantial influence over access for other companies' weapons. Bypassing the normal integration process is presented as risking exclusion from that support system. Delayed integration of weapons that partners expected to fit is interpreted as a source of industrial dependence. The resulting concern is that uncertainty about national weapons could deter future aircraft purchases when buyers want to preserve their own missile industries.