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Israel Wants JSF As Soon As Possible(F-35 fighter)
Aviation Week and Space Technology ^ | Dec 16, 2007 | David A. Fulghum, Robert Wall and Douglas Barrie

Posted on 12/17/2007 7:25:47 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki

Israel Wants JSF As Soon As Possible

Dec 16, 2007

David A. Fulghum, Robert Wall and Douglas Barrie

Israel plans to keep its aerial domination of the Middle East intact, and that includes buying Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, accelerating its first deliveries, and deciding whose advanced equipment will be packed into the stealthy strike aircraft.

A senior Israeli air force (IAF) official says those major areas of concern appear to be on the right track because of an “understanding” with the U.S. officials. Washington’s representatives are more ambiguous, saying that there has been no official change to Israel’s F-35 program.

“The plan is that we will get the F-35 as soon as it’s possible,” the senior IAF official says. He says the service will end up with more than 100 F-35s, but he would not confirm the size of the purchase or that Israel is asking that the initial delivery date be accelerated by two years to 2012. The IAF wants the JSF “the minute it is available.”

“Israel has a unique requirement, it doesn’t operate in a coalition, [and it has a] different kind of strategic relationship” with the U.S. than the other F-35 partners,” says Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager for the F-35. However, he says the overseas release of the first export aircraft will be no sooner than 2014.

The purchase, which could include an initial batch of 25 aircraft, is still being negotiated. Brig. Gen. Johanan Locker, head of the IAF’s air division, was in Fort Worth as recently as late November.

Israel’s ambitions to integrate indigenous weaponry also pose some problems for the program. The weapons road map for the Blocks 1-3 F-35 standards has already been drawn up with no Israeli weaponry on the list. Partner nations are currently working on a list for Block 4, but there’s pressure to cut weapons from the process rather than add them. Israel undoubtedly will want its F‑35s to carry the Rafael Python 5 air-to-air missile and possibly its successor, as well as the Rafael Spice family of precision-guided weapons.

Moreover, an influential retired IAF general says total sales will be limited by the JSF’s disadvantages. He points to its overdependence on stealth, a single crewman and what could be proprietary U.S. avionics.

“Eventually somebody will come up with a way to detect it,” he says. “A stealthy configuration also means you can’t carry additional weaponry on the exterior. The weapons system is more important than stealth. Israel will have F-35s, but not as many as we once thought.”

Smaller numbers won’t detract from the aircraft’s deterrence value, he concedes. Even a small fleet will ensure a first-day-of-war, surprise-strike capability. But once daily combat operations escalate, nonstealthy aircraft aided by standoff weapons, escort jammers and information operations will sustain air operations.

Nonetheless, he worries that the JSF will start showing its limitations within five years. Among the drawbacks will be its one-person crew. As a result, “we can’t operate the F-35 by itself,” the retired general says. “We really need two-seaters, with one person concentrating on flying and someone else focused on the strike mission. One man can’t take advantage of all the options,” particularly since JSF capabilities will include jamming, information warfare and network attack.

Inevitably, the avionics will present an area of contention. For example, Israeli aerospace officials say they can offer a tailored, active, electronically scanned array radar for less money than an AESA bought from the U.S. However, many of the electronic warfare and attack techniques are routed through the radar to produce jamming, false-target and other effects at ranges of 125 mi. or more. As a result, integration could be difficult and expensive.

Elta, the electronics division of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), has a version of the AESA, according to the retired general. “We need our own radar that we don’t share with others. We also need our own advanced radar warning and active jamming.” The Israeli AESA was flown last year; but for now it remains a generic system, not tailored to any specific aircraft—although it’s sized for an F-16, an Elta official says. Flight trials are continuing.

Meanwhile, current IAF leadership appears less concerned about the international trade issue.

“The number of aircraft [we obtain initially] could be irrelevant,” a senior general says. “The main issue now is that we get the first squadron as soon as possible. We give the basic capability to the squadron, and later on we increase it [with technology upgrades].”

The idea is to get just enough aircraft to develop a concept of operations and to lay out a technology development road map to tailor the JSF’s systems—particularly EW and attack capabilities—to Israeli-specific needs.

“At the beginning, we expect to get at least one squadron, with more to follow by the end of the decade [in 2020],” he says. “This is the first time there is not only an understanding [with the U.S.], but also a plan.”

Another major issue is what comes with the aircraft and what is Israel allowed to develop on its own. Industry officials are struggling with the problem since the F-35 has a highly integrated sensor suite that makes it harder to replace one black box with another. A senior Lockheed Martin official says Israel will not be allowed to simply replace parts of the electronic suite.

However, an IAI executive sees a workaround. The company expects to build JSF structural elements. Once the structure is well understood, there could be opportunities for embedding unique sensors, he says. The information from these sensors could be shown in the cockpit through bolt-on displays if integration proves too difficult.

However, the air force is more concerned about threats than industrial hurdles. “We did not decide on the exact systems and processes by which we intend to [proceed],” the senior IAF officer says. “But I think there’s an understanding that Israel will get the best [U.S.] aircraft, and we’ll be able to put the best Israeli systems inside [to meet] the IAF’s unique needs. We need to adapt them to the systems and the platform. That’s what we’ve done with the F-15I and the F-16I, and I believe we will be able to do that with the JSF. It’s very important that we get this capability on our own.

“That includes systems related to network offense and defense,” he says. “Some are the same as the Americans’, but we insist on some unique [capabilities] in every area. [Israel has] to have a relevant operational capability. You can’t wait to get [an upgrade to meet a new threat] a year late. You need to get intelligence, capability [and] precision on your own in a very short time.”

Syria, for example, is reputed to have the largest air defense capability in the region, and they are upgrading it with new investments.

“We are working to understand what our enemies are trying to do so we can tailor our power to deal with it,” he says. “The main reason why we have to modify the F-35 [is to counter] the relevant systems at the relevant time. We must be able to deal with them. . . . We’re also developing new systems and weapons that we can’t talk about. Sometimes reality is more impressive than the imagination.”

Israel also must wrestle with its weapons inventory, which often differs from that of the U.S. or other JSF buyers. Rafael officials say they are already working on alternative designs for the Spice precision air-to-surface bomb that can be integrated into the F-35. Foldout wings for the existing 2,000-lb. Spice will not fit in the JSF’s internal bay. Adapting it could reduce the bomb’s standoff range, but officials think that may be moot, since stealth will enable the JSF to fly closer to its targets.

Tied closely to the F-35 procurement is a decision to upgrade the F-15s and F-16s, particularly with new AESA radars that offer more range, small-target detection and broadband communications. However, the advanced radars are expensive.

“Do we intend to let the F-15s fly more years than we had planned?” the IAF official says. “It’s on the table. I intend to do the same with the F-16s. We have the second largest fleet in the world. With the right investment in avionics upgrades, they can be relevant for years.”

“The JSF will not replace all our needs,” agrees a senior defense ministry official.

According to IAF plans, not every aircraft will have the full package of upgrades. Instead, more advanced aircraft will feed target information to the others. However, U.S. radar developers point out that AESAs won’t be able to pass the same amount of information to non-AESA aircraft as they can to one that’s similarly equipped.

“For the future, the idea is to work as a group,” the IAF official says. “That allows you to do [advanced operations] without investing in each aircraft. If we have some of the best of the best technology, we can spread it to the other platforms, weapons and systems. You upgrade the group via the network.”

Here too, the former general expressed caution. “You have to attack information more than targets,” he says. “You need air superiority and information dominance. If you’re not building network-centric operations the right way, the capability can be eliminated [by the foe’s own network attack].”


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aerospace; f35; iaf; israel; jsf; lockheedmartin; navair
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1 posted on 12/17/2007 7:25:50 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
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To: sukhoi-30mki

How long, until they sell one to China?...


2 posted on 12/17/2007 7:26:39 PM PST by Cringing Negativism Network (I'm a proud Yankee Doodle Protectionist)
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To: Cringing Negativism Network

China’s probably had the plans for a while now. ...courtesy of Bill Clinton.


3 posted on 12/17/2007 7:27:42 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: Cringing Negativism Network

Unlikely that they would. China has become increasingly close to Islamists and has resold Israeli-tech to Israel’s enemies.


4 posted on 12/17/2007 7:29:36 PM PST by rmlew (Build a wall, attrit the illegals, end the anchor babies, Americanize Immigrants)
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To: Cringing Negativism Network

Ya got that right. Israel will probably sell the tech to China, who will eventually sell the tech to Iran and Russia.


5 posted on 12/17/2007 7:37:46 PM PST by max americana
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To: magslinger

ping


6 posted on 12/17/2007 7:39:09 PM PST by Vroomfondel
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To: magslinger

ping


7 posted on 12/17/2007 7:40:01 PM PST by Vroomfondel
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To: max americana
"Ya got that right. Israel will probably sell the tech to China, who will eventually sell the tech to Iran and Russia."

Man you sure got the Israelis figured out. You should write a book about how they are helping Iran to arm Hizbullah and Hamas ad to develop nookyoular weapons.

8 posted on 12/17/2007 7:53:25 PM PST by Soliton (Freddie T is the one for me! (c))
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To: Cringing Negativism Network
"How long, until they sell one to China?..."

Probably longer than it will take for our universities with support from their anti-Israel export/merchant benefactors to graduate a few thousand more Chinese military industry engineers. Certainly longer than it will take for the most influential constituents to propagandize the populace into electing another enemy-appeasing puppet from the "front runners" of either party.
9 posted on 12/17/2007 8:06:49 PM PST by familyop ("I'll buy that for a dollar!" --C.M. Kornbluth, in "The Marching Morons")
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To: sukhoi-30mki

If I were the Israelies,I would’nt go into Iran with anything less than the F-35.


10 posted on 12/17/2007 8:10:56 PM PST by HANG THE EXPENSE (Defeat liberalism, its the right thing to do for America.)
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To: Soliton

That’s flattering Soliton. It’s either we HELP/AID the Israelis in the ME..or help the Saudis. Just like every US ally, we give them $$$ then they turn around and sell our tech and secrets to their ally who turns out to be OUR ENEMY.

We might we as well annex them into our 51st state and get it over with.

How do you do that “quote” comment action?


11 posted on 12/17/2007 8:20:11 PM PST by max americana
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To: max americana
"It’s either we HELP/AID the Israelis in the ME..or help the Saudis."

Duuuh, Americans will choose to help the Israelis, 5-1. Uuuuuh, it's our import lobbies that putsch for sending money to the Saudis, the Palis, and to write conspiracy tales about the Israelis. You'uns know whut ah mean?


12 posted on 12/17/2007 8:30:34 PM PST by familyop ("I'll buy that for a dollar!" --C.M. Kornbluth, in "The Marching Morons")
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To: max americana
"How do you do that “quote” comment action?"

Ahhh does it quite raht, Guv'nuh!
13 posted on 12/17/2007 8:34:41 PM PST by familyop ("G-d is on our side because he hates the Yanks." --St. Tuco, in the "Good, the Bad, and the Ugly")
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To: sukhoi-30mki
China has an F-35 prototype and are reverse engineering it. The hardware aboard the Chinese F-35 joint strike AC will have a Ramen Soup dispenser, but no privy tube.

When asked about this, a Chi Com military press agent simply said : " We wonton very badly!"

Hahahahaha!

14 posted on 12/17/2007 8:37:14 PM PST by Candor7 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Baghdad_(1258))
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To: sukhoi-30mki
What's this they want to buy them crap?

Buy them with our money.

15 posted on 12/17/2007 8:49:18 PM PST by Last Dakotan (All my tools are hammers, except screwdrivers which are chisels and punches.)
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To: max americana
How do you do that “quote” comment action?

< i> quote </i>

16 posted on 12/17/2007 9:21:59 PM PST by faq (I got tired of waiting for someone else to say it.)
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To: max americana
Html sandbox
17 posted on 12/17/2007 10:24:16 PM PST by a_chronic_whiner (FRED 08)
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To: faq
How do you do that “quote” comment action? thanks!
18 posted on 12/17/2007 10:36:05 PM PST by max americana
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To: sukhoi-30mki

The question is how would other countries involved in the proggram that contributed more respond to this with Israel getting F-35s sooner while contributing less. In other words, would some see Israel cutting in front of the line of others, which may irritate the relations of some countries.


19 posted on 12/18/2007 3:34:45 AM PST by Wiz
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To: Wiz

Some of the JSF’s development partners,incl. Norway,Denmark,Britain & probably even Australia are having trouble keeping their commitments as well as with the attitude of the US to their participation.So they may not take up their quota of aircraft.


20 posted on 12/18/2007 4:25:26 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
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