Posted on 04/25/2007 10:46:11 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Tuesday April 24, 8:02 AM
Momentum seen for allowing some exports of F-22s
WASHINGTON, April 23 (Reuters) - Japan is interested in buying Lockheed Martin Corp.'s radar-evading F-22 fighter at a time when sentiment is growing in the Air Force and among lawmakers in favor of allowing selected exports, defense analysts and congressional aides said on Monday.
Any move to sell the F-22 or "Raptor" abroad would require a change in federal law and probably some changes in the software currently used by the F-22, they said.
But exports would help keep the F-22 production line running until Lockheed is due to ramp up production of its F-35 Joint Strike Fighter later this decade, securing and possibly creating more U.S. jobs.
"There is growing sentiment in the Air Force for allowing exports of the F-22 to trusted allies, because we need allies that have our capabilities, and those allies might be willing to pick up part of the bill," said Loren Thompson of the Virginia-based Lexington Institute.
He said it would lower F-22 unit costs and could help Washington foot the bill for developing a long-range fighter-bomber version of the F-22 to replace the F-15E Strike Eagle, built by Boeing Co. .
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe may raise the issue when he meets President George W. Bush in Washington next week, and his defense minister is widely expected to discuss the matter with U.S. defense officials. ADVERTISEMENT
On Sunday, the Kyodo news agency reported that Japan's defense ministry was considering buying F-22s and Boeing F-15FX fighters to replace its aging fighter jets.
JOINT EXERCISES
Japan and the United States want to step up cooperation between their armed forces in the face of rising regional tensions after North Korean nuclear and missile tests.
This week, the U.S. and Japanese air forces will hold their first joint exercises with a squadron of F-22s that are temporarily based at the U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa.
One U.S. Air Force official, who asked not to be named, said Japan's strong interest in the F-22 underscored the continued need for advanced air superiority fighters, even though recent wars have not involved air-to-air combat.
Israel also recently expressed interest in the Raptor.
Some critics argue that the F-22, which was first conceived during the Cold War, is not needed for the type of fighting in which the United States has been engaged in recent conflicts.
Air Force officials insist that the Raptor, which is equipped for ground attack, electronic attack and signals intelligence roles, is a critical part of U.S. military strength.
"Until the law is changed, we aren't even looking at it," said Air Force spokesman Don Manuszewski.
Lockheed would say only that current law bans exports.
Thompson said that technology transfer issues, mostly linked to the airplane's software, still need to be resolved.
The Air Force has long insisted it really needs 381 F-22s but only has enough money to afford 183 of the planes.
Given tightening budgets, anything that could lower U.S. Air Force costs and secure U.S. jobs sounds "very tempting," said one congressional aide, who asked not to be named.
Analyst Richard Aboulafia of the Virginia-based Teal Group said he considers the amendment banning foreign sales of the F-22, which was attached to the defense appropriations law in fiscal year 1998, "political theater from the start.
"I always expected that the minute there was a serious buyer out there, it would be dropped," Aboulafia said.
The law is known as the Obey Amendment since it was introduced by Rep. David Obey, a Wisconsin Democrat and the current chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
Obey's spokeswoman had no immediate comment on Monday.
Well, we sold them the F-15...and they’re one of the best allies they have...and they need good fighters to deal with the Chinese (and maybe the Russkies).
Looks good to me.
Ping!
Sure, why not?
We just need to place a secret fail safe on the jets, and our crews maintain the jets.
No, not F-22A. It should not be for export, never.
We gave Japan the plans for Aegis Cruisers. They’ve built four so far.
They did ?
And the Chinese honey pot scandal was apparently one reason for refusing to sell F-22s to Japan.
http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htintel/articles/20070426.aspx
"Horny Troops Succumb to Chinese Vamps
April 26, 2007: Japan has discovered a widespread Chinese effort to use sex to steal military technology. Attractive Chinese female intelligence agents are marrying members of the Japanese armed forces, and then using that access to obtain military secrets. The situation has been complicated by the military attempts to keep these "embarrassing incidents" secret. The government was particularly anxious to keep the Americans in the dark about all this, since the Chinese apparently got their hands on Aegis anti-aircraft system technology via their lady spies.
Actually, most of the Chinese agents don't have to marry Japanese troops. Just putting out usually does the trick. In Japan, the military doesn't get much respect, and many of the bases are in backwaters. So the troops are pretty lonely. It's not unusual for Chinese women to be in the country, as many come, legally or illegally, looking for jobs. The set-up is perfect for using the old "honey pot" (sexual entrapment) routine to extract military secrets.
The military geeks are the most sought after by the Chinese spies, as these guys have access to the most valuable military secrets. Geeks tend to be least experienced with women, and most vulnerable to a clever, and shapely, Chinese spy. Military commanders are not sure if they have got the problem under control, but now that the situation is out in the open, there will be more efforts to tighten up security. As the Japanese expected, the Americans were not amused. And the Chinese honey pot scandal was apparently one reason for refusing to sell F-22s to Japan. To make matters worse, part of the Japanese cover-up involved prosecuting the Chinese spies on immigration, not espionage, charges."
I guess we're not satisfied, and that NOW we're going to give them the F-22, huh...
BLACKBOX EVERYTHING. NO CO-DEVELOPMENT. Maintenance 2b performed by *USAF*...!!!! No J. engineers at all!
What ever happened to asking some patriotic Japanese girls to lay it on the line for the Tenno, by doing right by a Japanese soldier or two?
Meanwhile, all that aside, someone is going to have to get his arms around that giant Chinese intel operation (so to speak). Let's start by kicking their asses out of Long Beach and Panama.
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