An F-35B Lightning II performs an aerial demonstration at the Farnborough International Air Show, July 17, 2016.
U.S. Air Force / Master Sgt. Eric Burks
LONDON— Disagreement among allies, uncertainty around the Iran war, and defense spending fluctuations in Europe and the United States will swirl around the Farnborough Air Show in England next week.Other things will also set this year’s edition of the biennial show apart from its predecessors, industry representatives and aviation analysts told Defense One. Typically, the commercial-heavy air expo is preceded by the Royal International Air Tattoo at the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force station, one of the world’s largest military airshows. But in late May, RIAT organizers announced this year’s show was canceled to the public. The reason: the war in Iran.“This has not been an easy decision,” RIAT’s statement read. “It follows extensive discussions with the Royal Air Force and the United States Air Force regarding uncertainty over access to RAF Fairford, given the ongoing situation in the Middle East.”As a result, the Farnborough International Air Show, which runs July 21 to July 24, will likely absorb much of the focus and presence, said Eric Fanning, the Aerospace Industries Association’s CEO and president. Additionally, the show follows a bumpy NATO summit earlier this month and President Donald Trump’s continued push to have U.S. allies take on more defense spending.In Washington, D.C., the administration’s $1.5 trillion military budget pitched at revitalizing the defense industrial base is in dire straits, in part, due to political disagreements over the Iran war.Fanning said government participation is not in flux due to the war in Iran, but it has caused some logistics and planning considerations for military aircraft to be displayed. U.S. Air Force platforms shown at Farnborough this year will include the F-35 Lightning II, the C-130J, the UH-60 Blackhawk, and the CH-47 Chinook helicopter, according to the air show’s website. British, Czech, Italian and Turkish planes will also be displayed.
