The same happened in The Netherlands with regards to the F35 even though at the time several media outlets already reported that both the Eurofighter or Saab Gripen might be better choices.
At the time there was a very popular right-wing politician in The Netherlands (Pim Fortuyn) who was very much not in favor of the F35 purchase. And perhaps if he didn’t get killed by a left-wing activist, he might have chosen for one of the other planes. However, he got killed and his second in command (Mat Herben) took over the party and agreed with the F35 purchase.
At the time there was a very popular right-wing politician in The Netherlands (Pim Fortuyn) who was very much not in favor of the F35 purchase. And perhaps if he didn’t get killed by a left-wing activist, he might have chosen for one of the other planes. However, he got killed and his second in command (Mat Herben) took over the party and agreed with the F35 purchase.
The Guardian reported that some associates of Pim Fortuyn thought that Mat Herben was an establishment infiltrant: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/jun/28/thefarright.po...