Forum: Program and politics

From defensedaily.com

Israel Inks Letter of Agreement To Join Joint Strike Fighter
Jul 31, 2003
Israel on Friday signed a letter of agreement, worth almost $20 million, to formally join the system development and demonstration (SDD) effort for Lockheed Martin's [LMT] F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program as a "security cooperation participant" (SCP), according to a spokesman for the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

SCP status places Israel in a status lower than the eight full partner countries in JSF. Australia in November joined as the eighth and final country to join as a full partner in JSF after Britain, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Turkey (Defense Daily, Nov. 1).

Britain in January 2001 became the first international participant in the JSF SDD effort as a Level I partner with an investment of $2 billion.

Since then, Italy and the Netherlands have joined as Level II partners, contributing $1 billion and $800 million to the project, respectively. Canada signed on as a Level III partner, with an investment of $150 million, followed by Denmark with an investment of $125 million in May, Norway with another $125 million in June, Turkey with $175 million, and Australia with $150 million.

Singapore has also signed a letter of intent to become an SCP in JSF (Defense Daily, Feb. 26). Singapore's LOA is expected to be signed in the near future.

Full partners that participate in the JSF SDD effort gain access to JSF technical data for use on its own current and future programs, personnel in the program office, participation on the JSF executive committee, royalties on future JSF sales to third parties and a waiver on foreign military sales and research and development costs should it decide to buy the aircraft. Additionally, full partners have priority access terms to JSF production runs.

As an SCP, Israel will be able explore configurations of JSF to meet its unique operational needs and form its own program office. Unlike the other full partners, Israel will not be able to impact JSF requirements or have a presence in the JSF program office.

However, Israeli industry will be able to compete for SDD work on the JSF like the other full partners. Israel and Singapore will also have access to JSF aircraft starting in 2012, but after full partners in priority

F-16.net Sponsor

In August 2002 the US was still resisting Israeli requests to participate in the JSF program out of concern that classified technology might be leaked to countries unfriendly to the United States, such as China.

Norway strongly objected to Israel's participation in the JSF program, and threatened not to buy the plane if it included Israeli systems. Lockheed-Martin responded that in that case, Norway would have to seek its own alternatives. Shocked

What??
I didn't expected that from Norway. Anyway, I think that Lockheed-Martin is right. I think Israeli systems are equal, if not better, than the American systems. All the Israeli Air-Force first-line aircrafts (F-15 a/b/c/d/e/i and F-16 /a/b/c/d/i are equipped with Israeli systems.

Cool! We know it'll see some action if that happens! It'll have great pilots and support crews too! (OK, so I'm a fan of the IAF and I think DeepSpace is one lucky guy Mr. Green

) By the way, what's up with Norway? I wouldn't expect that from Norway, either. I just wonder what Israel will do to modify their F-35s...

LOL, thanks Parrothead.
I believe the IAF will (when and if Wink

) change a large part of the avionics, for example the EW systems, ECM and most probably an Elta radar, better than the one that was supposed to be on the F-16I Sufa.

Thought I think I can't be lucky enough till I get to the Air Force Academy. Wink

Hey DeepSpace,
From everything I've read that you've posted, I'd say you have a great chance. Keep up the good work and thanx for the quick response! Very Happy

Thanks, and you're most welcome Smile

Things to consider are this:

The Israelis signing on to the JSF program allows them to have their industry compete for best value workshare. That is $$$ for their industry. I seriously doubt you will see a JSF going to the M.E. as that would be a political hand grenade par excellance. As it is, Israeli has dealings with India (yup they have an aerospace industry ) and China. The JSF program is going to be a nightmare.

On a side note: I see the JSF program being held up indefinately if the EU agrees to do arms sales to China.

'Norways objection to Israel joining is in my eyes down to thier lack of workshare in the project. They have told the US unless they get more of the workshare they may pull out, so seeing Israel becoming more and more involved creates less room for spreading workshare hence Norways anger.

Its obvious the IDF/AF will get the JSF just a matter of when.

I think Israel joing JSF is great. Sounds like some people are forgetting that the goal of LM Areo is to sell the most jets possible. The more countries that join the better.

As for technology transfer problems those things are really non issues. We won't export what we aren't willing to give away.

The Norwegians are stuck they can get a little out of JSF or nothing out of another airframe. They can whine all they want they aren't going anywhere.

Forum: Program and politics

IAF agrees to join on F-35