Posted on 12/17/2010 8:50:57 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Despite torpedoing U.S. President Barack Obama's Middle East peace drive, Israel is still trying to sweet-talk Washington into providing 20 F-35 stealth fighters it promised free of charge in return for a settlements freeze in the occupied West Bank.
Washington withdrew the offer after the government of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, dominated by right-wing parties, refused to extend a 10-month halt in settlement building for 90 days, the Palestinian condition for continuing the talks.
In the face of Israel's refusal, the U.S. administration withdrew the offer of free F-35s worth $3 billion, along with other incentives it had put on the table.
But Israeli officials say Netanyahu's government is still trying to work out a deal to get the 20 radar-evading, fifth-generation fighters that are built by Lockheed Martin.
(Excerpt) Read more at upi.com ...
I don’t see whats so great about an airframe.
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Here’s the “car” explanation: When Ford made the frame of the Taurus 40% stronger, they could choose between:
1) better handling
2) better ride
3) anything between #1 and #2
My guess for an airframe is, stronger lighter frame = faster more agile aircraft.
You would think that the Israelis, being as ingenious as they tend to be, would have developed and manufactured an aircraft far superior to anything they could purchase.
They used to rip out the electronics and put in their own. Not sure if they still do it.
Israel is noted for selling our tech to other countries, I say they should be given or sold this advanced aircraft.
They can do it still but subject to permission from the original manufacturer. LM reportedly refused permission for them to install a home-built radar on their F-16IS.
Isn't that a sticking point?
Israel want the codes for enhancing the software and the US wants to keep it proprietary?
The sticking point was the 8 million lines of code that runs the plane. Its called the source code. That will be serviced by the U.S. in the Negev Desert.Everthing has been cleared up between the U.S. and Israel. Production is coming up soon.
Possible answers:
1. The planes are a “promise,” whereas the buildings are a present reality. And, Fauxbama lies.
2. A little matter of three billion dollars.
DG
Don’t we have some F-117s sitting in the desert gathering dust?
Why not rehab them and give them to Israel? At least as a stopgap.
The USAF has brought some F-117s back into service.
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