China Wants "Just One" F-35, Please

It is a story that tells a great deal about the sophistication of Chinese military leaders, as well as why air shows happen.

Steve O’Bryan, one of Lockheed Martin’s top executives for the F-35 program, was seated across the table from the chief of China’s air force almost two years ago at the gala dinner held at the Royal International Air Tattoo. They chatted amiably during dinner, through an interpreter. Then Steve got up to give an award and was introduced as the head of Lockheed’s F-35 international business development.

When he got back to his seat the interpreter had vanished and the air chief himself was sitting next to Steve. They chatted for a while. Then the air chief leaned over to Steve, smiling and said: “You know, Steve, I really love the F-35. I’d really love to have the F-35 in my air force.”

Steve thought to himself: I’m the Lockheed business development guy, so I should ask him how many he wants! So he asked the air chief. “He kind of looks at me and says: ’You know Steve, I need just one.”

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