Indeed, the main problem is that we have no guarantee of the benefits. Everything has to be negotiated on a piecemeal basis, and it's a never‑ending process. As soon as a new partner is added to the F‑35 development program for aircraft construction, they too can start negotiating piecemeal and try to steal contracts from other partners. A dynamic has developed within the F‑35 development program. It is extremely difficult to design a new aircraft program and to take on the financial burden alone. That's why Lockheed Martin and its other industrial partners made the decision they did. So it has been split—
On May 17th, 2022. See this statement in context.