Report: U.S. blocking Israeli access to F-15SE and F-35 air dominance aircraft

This is a continuation of the sad theme discussed here: F-35: Should Israel develop an independent air superiority alternative?. If this report is correct, the State Department and the Pentagon are once again using US military aid to Israel to gain a stranglehold on Israeli security decisions as well as foreign policy. It is intolerable interference with national sovereignty, but as long as the US pays the bill and has a monopoly, Israel has no real choice. It underlines the urgent need for an Israeli alternative air craft that is not dependent on the Pentagon. It is irresponsible for Israel to continue to depend on the United States for vital air defence and deterrent capabilities. This is beyond political maneuvers and differences of opinions. It could really jeopardize Israeli defence.

 

The article is written by someone with little technical expertise. The point of the F-15SE and F-35 is that they are not just "fighter jets." The problem with keeping all the computer technology of the F-35 in the USA is not the long repair time, since in theory the US would provide spare computers. The problem is that they also could fail to provide such spares if Jim Jones or Rahm Emanuel doesn't like something Israel does, and by keeping a stranglehold on the flight control computer, the US prevents Israel from modifying the aircraft in almost anyway, since most modifications that matter would have to be controlled by that flight computer and taken into account by it.

 

If you care about  Israel please write to the President and other US officials and tell them not to play irresponsible political games with Israeli security.

 

Ami Isseroff

 

U.S. blocking Israeli access to U.S. fighter-jets

 

 

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has imposed obstacles on Israeli efforts to procure U.S.-origin fighter-jets.   

 

Administration sources said the White House has drafted measures that could prevent Israel and other non-NATO allies from procuring U.S. fighter-jets, including the F-35. They said the administration would require that Israel obtain special permission from the Defense Department and State Department to acquire the Joint Strike Fighter.

 

The administration has also been resisting Israeli requests for technical data on the new F-15SE fighter-jet.

 

Under the proposals, the Pentagon would order modifications of JSF to provide the aircraft with nuclear strike capabilities. The sources said such a capability would provide the Pentagon with access to government budgets to maintain and develop the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

 

"Once JSF obtains nuclear strike capability, there becomes a problem with exports," the source said. "NATO countries would have less of a problem; non-NATO countries would need special exemptions."

The sources said Lockheed Martin would not be instructed to develop both nuclear- and non-nuclear models of the F-35 for the first stage of production. Israel has sought to become among the first export clients of JSF.

 

Over the last few months, the administration has rejected a series of Israeli requests regarding modifications of the F-35. They included Israeli electronic warfare systems and acquisition of U.S. software codes that would allow Israel to repair the aircraft's central computer. The U.S. refusal meant that the Israel Air Force would be forced to send the F-35 to the United States for any repairs, a process that could take months.

 

The sources said the State Department has been delaying Israeli requests for pre-export licenses required for an examination of the new generation F-15.

 

The sources said the administration has not approved the new F-15 for the Foreign Military Sales program. They said this could prevent Israel from using U.S. military aid to purchase the aircraft from Boeing.

 

"This is a legal issue," a source said. "The F-15SE might not qualify for FMS."