What the Swiss F-35 Deal Teaches Us About Procurement

What can a controversial fighter jet deal teach us about the way organisations buy products and services?

In this episode of The Art of Being Nimble, Glenn Smith is joined by Mirko Kleiner, co-founder of the Lean-Agile Procurement Alliance and a leading voice in rethinking procurement approaches.

Together, they unpack the Swiss government’s troubled acquisition of the F-35 fighter jet — a high-stakes, multi-billion deal that has become a national scandal. Mirko explains why traditional procurement processes often set both buyers and suppliers up for failure, particularly in fast-moving, complex environments.

The conversation explores:

• Why procurement models built for a predictable world are failing in today’s complexity

• The hidden costs and risks of lengthy, adversarial tendering processes

• How outcome-based specifications and collaboration with suppliers can deliver better results

• Real-world examples of Lean-Agile Procurement in government and enterprise settings

• Practical advice for leaders preparing for their next big procurement challenge

Whether you’re managing multi-million contracts or simply trying to buy smarter in your organisation, this episode will change how you think about procurement — and why agility, trust, and collaboration matter more than ever.