US Guards JSF Crown Jewels

Dod Buzz ^ | 11/24/2009 | Colin Clark

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The Pentagon, after years and years of deliberation and heavy pressure from Britain, has finally decided it will not share the all-important computer source code for the Joint Strike Fighter.

Sharing source code would, in the words of one close observer of the program, “turn the British JSF into a Trojan Horse.” The message this source would send the British: “Yes we love you… but who are those third party nationals from the EU working for you? And how do we know we can trust them?”

British officials had threatened to pull out of the program if the US did not share the source code, but they are unlikely to go that far given how much political and financial capital they have committed to the project. There is also the fact, as one congressional source noted, that the British want what is commonly called the ITAR treaty approved by the Senate.

In August 2006, the US and UK concluded a technology transfer agreement for the F-35. One year later, the Bush administration sent a draft ITAR treaty in June to the Senate for ratification.

Now we hear that the Senate is moving with all deliberate speed to hold a final hearing on the ITAR treaty sometime before Christmas.

[Porterville]

I trust Asia more than Europe these days.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

I agree.

[gibtx2]

I do not trust any of them

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

If there is a tight control of the technology(ie:replacement parts and other technology) and manufacturiung we can do business. The contracts must be air-tight and no loopholes. However, they must earn that trust and prove that they are “on the level” .

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

I would also insist on security issues in these contracts. Anyone involved with the plane’s development should be completey vetted.

[uglybiker]

Everyone knows the British use Trojan Rabbits!

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

LOL

[element92]

with US secret coding,

the plane can be turned off
by Obama

[Wiz]

China = Communist
Japan = China’s puppet dog
North Korea = Dictatorship
South Korea = Fascist
Russia = Neo imperialists

[DieHard the Hunter]

Smart move. You can probably trust the Poms, but I’m not too sure about their EU bed-mates. Not at all sure of them.

The US would be safer trusting the Aussies. They don’t owe Europe anything that they haven’t already paid for in blood.

[WKUHilltopper]

Thanks to the people in the Blight House, I don’t even trust our “own” people anymore...

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Great Point. I do not trust them either.

[Vanders9]

You’re either both out of your minds or you unquestionably believe the “muslims are taking over the UK now” articles that regularly appear on these forums.

[gibtx2]

I dont think we should sell any weapon to anyone else for any reason.

[Vanders9]

OK, but that means that all your weapons will cost a great deal more, as 1) you won’t be able to offset costs with foreign sales, and 2) you will be losing economy of scale, because you won’t be making as many and 3) you will also be losing foreign investment. Britain alone has pumped a couple of billion into JSF - they certainly won’t do that if you don’t give them a “piece of the action”.

Therefore, the US defence industry will lose jobs, because they wont have the volume of sales. Taxes will have to rise to pay for defence, and/or the military will have to tighten its belt on R&D or new weapon procurement, because everything will cost more.

Finally, if you sell weapons to another country, you have a certain amount of “pull” over them, inasmuch as they are to some extent dependent on you for technical support, spare parts, ammunition, repairs etc etc. In many cases, you can use that to influence them - even fight your battles for you - as, for example, Israel did in 60’s and 70’s. So if you dont sell, you lose a lot of influence.

But, hey, your call.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Muslims are invading every part of Europe due to their lax immigration rules.

[Vanders9]

And this would be in contrast to the superstringent and airtight borders in which part of the USA?

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

We have had an excellent relationship with the British government for many decades. They are doing something about their immigration problem like many other European countries to correct their mistake.

[Vanders9]

Its very difficult to close borders these days. The borders are very long and fast efficient transport is easily available. And people in the cesspools that cover two thirds of the globe are desperate to escape them, and you can hardly blame them for that.