Posted on 10/14/2010 8:19:10 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Israel’s F-35 engine selection in dispute between rival manufacturers
By Stephen Trimble
An announced engine selection for Israel's first batch of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters has sparked a new dispute between both rival manufacturers.
Pratt & Whitney says the company has received a verbal commitment by Israel to buy the F135 engine to power the first batch of 20 F-35s ordered under a $2.75 agreement signed last week.
The General Electric/Rolls-Royce team developing the F136 alternate engine claims the selection process remains ongoing.
"We fully anticipate we will have an opportunity to compete with the F136" in Israel, a General Electric spokesman says.
The controversy leaves in doubt the first potential engine selection by a non-US F-35 customer for production phase aircraft.
Pratt & Whitney claims the timing of the Israel's order is critical, with only one production engine available to meet the customer's scheduled entry into service in 2015.
The F136, however, is on track to become operational on US-owned F-35s in 2013. "We will definitely have an engine ready when [Israel] wants it," General Electric says.
Pratt & Whitney says that it was the only engine manufacturer invited to the ceremony in New York where Israeli officials signed the letter of offer and acceptance to commit to the fighter purchase. "The other guys weren't there," a spokeswoman says.
Moreover, the F135-maker also notes that it has sold engines to Israel since 1947 and the company's engines currently power all of the country's fixed-wing combat jets.
General Electric, however, says F136 representatives delivered a briefing about the F-35 programme's alternate engine in Israel earlier this week at the invitation of the government in Tel Aviv.
$2.75 is a pretty good price for 20 F-35’s.
Sooo...the F35 is what? low buck version of the F350? Can they get that with the diesel and 4x4?
No the diesel and 4X4 is a quarter extra.
If they commit to the GE/Rolls option will the British government be able to withhold spare parts and supplies whenever they are unhappy with Israel’s policies? Safer to just stick with PW.
Israel isn’t safe trusting in any nation, including the US. If the Brits would break a contract to deliver spare parts, then so would we. Therefore, they should go with the best bang for the buck.
There isn’t going to be an F136 if the US Government doesn’t continue its development funding.
And there are no funds in next year’s budget for the alternate engine program.
They are already stuck with being judged by the US because the plane is a US plane. There is nothing they can do to avoid having to cater to US political whims. Buying the GE/Rolls engine might put them under the thumb of an additional government and, in the case of Britain, a hostile government.
Guess that will be for Israel to decide. Great Britain can use the cash.
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