Posted on 04/17/2009 6:37:26 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
The defense establishment is reconsidering the purchase of American F-35 fighter jets due to the unexpected high cost and disagreements with the manufacturer regarding the installation of Israeli systems in the planes.
"This is undoubtedly the ideal fighter plane, and we'd like to have it very much, but not at any price," a senior defense establishment official said.
A defense establishment evaluation concludes that the Israel Air Force can maintain its operational and technological supremacy even without the advanced fighter aircraft. This could be achieved by upgrading the IAF's F-15 and F-16 aircraft and buying their advanced models. Advertisement The Lockheed Martin F-35 is a fifth-generation, single-seat, single-engine, stealth-capable military strike fighter, which can evade radar and anti-aircraft missile systems. Senior Air Force officers insist on purchasing it to deal with future battle threats.
Israel is interested in signing the preliminary contract to buy the planes by the end of the year. The first 25 planes are expected to arrive from 2014, and Israel is planning to buy 50 more planes in the future.
The Pentagon and Congress approved the deal, estimated at $15 billion, last autumn. However, disagreements between the Israeli Defense Ministry and Lockheed Martin is holding up the negotiations, which have reached an advanced stage.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
"Israel must disarm, accept a two-state solution, and agree to 'right of return'. Then peace can start. Because, as we all know, 'if you want peace, work for justice'. And, 'if you're not part of the solution, then you're part of the problem.' And, 'death to the J-', uh, justice-opposers."
They could try the sukhoi long range strike plane out.
/mark
I was thinking Su-34 bombers.
They should let IAI manufacture the plane.
Great graphic. I’m stealing it.
Hmm...I wonder if the IDF might be a candidate for the F-15SE that Boeing announced recently. They’re already familiar with operating F-15s, it’s intended for export, and it’s stealthiness is probably not all that much worse than the F-35s (which isn’t supposed to be as good as the F-22’s).
I have to admit that I’d like to see how the Sukhoi’s fare in the hands of competent pilots (the Indians aside), but given the Ruskies’ track record for servicing, the lack of compatibility, and relative unfamiliarity with Russian equipment (although I guess they they have some familiarity through the aftermarket upgrades they make for old ComBloc hardware), I don’t see it happening.
I dunno.
Israel contributes some wonderful stuff to the F35.
If they are excluded, I see a wrecked program.
Really? I read (admittedly on Wikipedia) that they are providing the HMDS, but I don’t know of any other tech that they’re contributing to the “stock” F-35.
I do fear a wrecked program, however. Awhile ago the UK was considering bowing out due to ToT concerns IIRC. IMHO, have the number 2 partner leave the program would be much more significant than having the Israelis, who’ve only been participants since ‘06, leave. Since the Eurofighter is looking like a first-rate 4.5 gen fighter with future tranches providing an air-to-ground capability, I don’t know about the future of the JSF in the UK.
Also, it seems like the program’s riven with performance concerns, including inadequate stealthiness to prevent detection by modern air defenses at reasonable combat distances. I like the idea of a low-cost alternative to the F-22, with a more developed air-to-ground capability, but the program’s seemed to have had quite a difficult time getting things going.
FWIW, I heard a rumor that Israel is developing stealthy FAST packs for the F-35. These are conformal packs that attach to the sides of the fuselage and carry extra fuel, electronics and weapons. When the Israelis first developed the FAST packs for the F-15, our Air Force bought them and used them to create the F-15E Strike Eagle interdiction aircraft. Boeing is using their own version of the FAST pack in the F-15ES Silent Eagle. If the Israelis can make stealthy FAST packs for the F-35, it would likely mean the ability to carry two additional AMRAAMs or 1,000 pound bombs, as well as several hundred miles more range. That would be a very nice increase in capability.
Tons of highly trained aerospace workers will now be hitting the pavement. What are they going to build now, Eco_Weenie cars, High speed trains or windmills?
We are so screwed.
For now, perhaps. On the other hand, maybe history will repeat. Carter killed the B-1B. Reagan revived it.
Personally, I think the YF-23 should be revived and navalized. Neither the F-35 nor the newer F-18 give the navy what it lost with the F-14 or what the AF has with the F-22.
I was in commercial side during the ATF flyoff.
I thought the YF-23 was a better ship just by my arm-chair aerodynamics & gut feel (based on years of studying aero on my own)
With that said, the F-18E/f and the F-18 in general IMHO they are toads. I have watched them fly and no way do they do what a F-16/15 are capable of i.e. vertical climbout stand it on it's tail right after rotation and go vertical.
Getting rid of the F-14 was insane. The 20 or so they upgraded to the GE engines were something. I got to see one do a routine at the Reno Air Races years ago, and it did things the Pratt powered version never could do.
they’ve probably been saying “bomb iran & we won’t sell you these, meh meh meh”
perfect time to come out & say “don’t want ‘em anyway, me ol’ mucka.”
Do you have a source for that quote? I can't find it.
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