JPOST:
A refusal by the United States to allow Israel to repair computer systems in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is at the heart of disagreements between the Defense Ministry and the Pentagon that have been holding up an official Israeli order for the fifth-generation fighter jet.
The JSF, also known as the F-35, is a stealth fighter jet under development by Lockheed Martin. Last year, Israel received approval from the Pentagon to purchase up to 75 aircraft in a deal that could reach close to $20 billion.
The US has closed down production and canceled production of the F-22, which the Pentagon says is the only fighter we have which could penetrate the Russian sold but not yet installed S300PMU air defense system in Iran, rather than sell these to any of Israel, Japan or Australia, all of whom have asked to buy them.
Defense officials told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday that talks between the Israeli defense delegation in Washington and the Pentagon have picked up speed in recent weeks but have yet to result in agreement due to the US's refusal to grant Israel access to the plane's internal computer mainframe.
The Americans are concerned that by allowing Israel to independently repair the computers, the Israel Air Force will get its hands on the classified technology that was used to make the plane.
Israel, on the other hand, has argued that due to its operational requirements it needs to have the ability to repair damaged or broken computer systems in "real time" and cannot wait for a computer system to be sent to the US for repairs in the middle of a war.
The Americans have told Israel it will receive a number of spare computer systems that it could install in place of a damaged system but would still have to send the damaged system to the US for repairs.
"This is the core of the disagreements right now," explained one senior defense official. "We have major operational constraints and need to have the ability to repair the systems on our own."
Due to the disagreements regarding the computer, as well as American opposition to the integration of Israeli systems into the plane and its overall soaring cost - now reaching $100 million - the Defense Ministry has recently asked Boeing for details on the new and advanced model of the F-15 Eagle, which is claimed to have enhanced stealth capabilities.
There is also an option to upgrade existing F-15s to the Silent Eagle model at a much lower cost.
In March, Boeing unveiled the F-15 Silent Eagle (F-15SE), a new configuration of the F-15 which has undergone improvements and modifications that, according to media reports, give the plane a stealth capability that is effective in evading radars on enemy aircraft but not against ground-based radar systems.
Improvements in stealth include coatings and treatments to the aircraft, as well as a new design for the conformal fuel tanks that includes the possibility of carrying weapons inside them instead of fuel.
Israel operates several squadrons of F-15s, including one of 25 F-15Is, the aircraft with the longest-range in the IAF.
I see an Israeli designed and built stealth fighter, and stealth drones in the future which will compete on the open market with and perhaps for American sales, and absolutely WILL end up sold to any purchaser.
Is that really the desired outcome here?
Considering what Kissinger did in 1973, in both pre war threat 'had Israel struck first, they would not have received "so much as a nail" ' (rather than the Israeli policy which was to preempt), and in withholding resupply, and where we are with the administration and it's appointments, stated goals and speeches both during the campaign and now, the USA is proving that Israel's (i.e., the Jewish people in history in this case) original foreign policy in the face of the 1948-1966 US arms embargo - Israel will never be able to look to or depend on any other nation or people, and will never have real allies or friends, and should look only to itself - is utterly correct. Of course at that time, the mullahs and their genocidal compulsions DID NOT EVEN EXIST. There was no Hizballah, no HAMAS, no IRGC.
It will be the USA which faces the most problems in the ME, and in the world as a result of the choices it is making in foreign policy, defense and intelligence now. Problems CREATED by this admin which will last 50 years or more.
In whose long term interest is it that Iran remains without nukes, or the mullahs are destroyed?
What policies are we engaged in which will deliver these goals?
The concrete objective conclusions based on actual events is that, we are forcing Israel to be physically weaker, and politically weaker in order to compel them to commit acts not in their own interest because we believe a peace in the ME on our terms will serve our goals. We do not consider serious the idea that such a peace will kill Israel in the end.
This means the USA inside this administration regards ISRAEL (and another group here) as the problem in the middle east.
They believe that Israel compelled to act as we wish means Iran will understand our actions be cognizant that we mean them no harm and will feel that way towards us.
This 'reality' in the minds of this admin underlies all their actions.
It is my observation, therefore, that this administration believes Walt and Mearsheimer as well.
Watch what happens here in America as a result of this belief by the administration.
Obama's (adult) lifelong preacher, Wright said Israel was a gangster state...publicly. Obama is going to act as if it is and cast a baleful eye at those who support the idea that this gangster state is one of our key allies in this world.
I don't know how Obama's economic ideas are going to play out, but he is going to be the largest and most calamitous failure in American history as president in foreign affairs as history records, over the fullness of time.