DM Barak's F-35 Decision to be Reconsidered

inn ^ | 8/26/10 | Hillel Fendel

[Nachum]

Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz is not happy with Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s recent decision to purchase 20 F-35 “Evader” airplanes from the United States - and the decision will be reconsidered.

Three Objections Steinitz says the planes are simply too expensive, and has asked Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu not to rely on Barak’s opinion alone on the matter. Netanyahu has agreed to discuss the matter in a more extensive forum, the composition of which is yet to be announced.

Steinitz also objects to the deal on the grounds that the U.S. has refused to install Israeli systems on the plane. These systems would improve its capabilities, perpetuating Israel’s air superiority in the region even if, as expected, Saudi Arabia or other Arab countries purchase the same plane.

[edcoil]

There goes the quarterly growth numbers.

[Flightdeck]

You mean F-35 “Lightning II” airplanes?

[Hodar]

I'm assuming the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

[Hodar]

These will sting a bit (F-35 internal weapons)

These will leave a mark (F-35 external weapons )

[Yo-Yo]

Steinitz also objects to the deal on the grounds that the U.S. has refused to install Israeli systems on the plane. These systems would improve its capabilities, perpetuating Israel’s air superiority in the region even if, as expected, Saudi Arabia or other Arab countries purchase the same plane.

Not bloody likely that any Israeli radar or computer system would be an improvement over US equipment.

The difference is that Israel would have full access to their own computer code for modifications or additions, without depending on LockMart and the US.

[Yo-Yo]

These will leave a mark (F-35 external weapons )

Sure they will. Especially that MXU-648 Baggage Pod.

[Hodar]

Sure they will. Especially that MXU-648 Baggage Pod.

That is used for humanitarian aide for the survivors (clean undies) after any of the other one's is dropped.

[Yo-Yo]

I was thinking more along the lines of dirty undies being considered WMDs.

[wku man]

Yeah...what's up with this "Evader" crap? The only evading going on will be Russian/Chicom/North Korean/Iranian/et al pilots trying to evade the weapons being fired at them by F-35 pilots.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Nachum.

Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz... says the planes are simply too expensive... also objects to the deal on the grounds that the U.S. has refused to install Israeli systems on the plane. These systems would improve its capabilities, perpetuating Israel's air superiority in the region even if, as expected, Saudi Arabia or other Arab countries purchase the same plane.