Washington used aggressive sales pitch to sell F-35 jets: Memos

Toronto Sun ^ | 12/23/2010 | Bruce Campion-Smith

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Canada may have been the target of a high-pressure sales job to buy the controversial F-35 fighter by a U.S. administration known to use “forceful” diplomacy to cement a deal, leaked diplomatic cables suggest.

Memos from the U.S. State Department reveal that Washington engaged in a carefully orchestrated campaign to persuade Norway to buy the American-made fighter jet in 2008. And praising the success of that “extensive, coordinated” effort, U.S. diplomats suggested using a similar game plan to make other foreign sales.

Two years later, Canada announced it would buy 65 F-35s at a cost of $9 billion, not including the cost of maintenance, a deal that raises questions whether Ottawa faced a similar full-court press by the U.S.

The memos, distributed by WikiLeaks, date from 2008 when Norway was deciding between the F-35 or the Swedish-made Saab Gripen jet as its fighter jet of the future.

While the notes don’t mention Canada by name, they do offer an intriguing window into the world of arms sales as government worked hand-in-hand with the private sector to secure a lucrative deal.

In this case, U.S. diplomats worked closely with officials from Lockheed Martin, the jet’s manufacturer, to combat negative media coverage, woo decision makers and publicly promote the fighter.

[diogenes ghost]

How to market a pig-in-a-poke to your friends, but at an inflated cost.

One can surmise that future programs will be looked at with a jaundiced eye by potential buyers.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Systems like the JSF have long lead times. IIRC, all the participating countries at the outset had agreed to buy it only to later start waffling as other countries began to lobby to sell their aircraft to our allies. If so, that puts this into better perspective.

The cost per aircraft is based on the total number to be produced and as others entered the picture the number ordered dropped, upping the price per.

[diogenes ghost]

This program is so far behind schedule that many countries that signed up for it are in great need, and no delivery in sight. This is forcing many of them to consider buying other fighters, such as Typhoon or F-18E/F, to fill voids due to retirement of current fleets.

I sure don't see how this puts JSF in any sort of good perspective.

Overhyped.

Overpriced.

Overdue.