Israel Matzav: Israel may get its technology into F-35 after all

Israel may get its technology into F-35 after all

Remember the whole argument several months ago about putting Israeli technology into the F-35 strike fighters being purchased by Israel? It seems that the manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, is having difficulties selling the plane, and in a bid to get Israel to place a final order, which may inspire other countries to do the same, the manufacturer and the US government are going to give some ground on letting Israel install its own technology.

The United States is expected to ease its opposition to incorporating Israeli systems in the F-35 if Israel expedites its order for the stealth strike fighter. Sources in the defense establishment confirmed Tuesday a Reuters report that the U.S. has offered a version of the F-35 that would include command and control systems developed in Israel, as well as the ability to carry advanced missiles that are made in Israel.

Reuters says that the Pentagon is still opposed to the introduction of an Israeli electronic warfare suite for the version of the fighter that would be procured by the IAF, and this remains a key Israeli condition.

An order from Israel has been delayed for months because of discussions on the issue of Israeli systems, and the aircraft's high cost.

The IAF would like to place an order for the first 25 F-35s, out of an overall order of 75.

If this actually happens it will be good news. But given all of the fights and delays over the F-35, I'll believe it when I see it.

Israel Matzav: Israel may get its technology into F-35 after all

Israel Matzav: Awesome: F-35 ordered by Israel is 2 years behind schedule

Awesome: F-35 ordered by Israel is 2 years behind schedule

Two weeks ago, I reported that Israel had placed an initial order for 25 of the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets, with a contract to be signed in early 2010 and the first plane to be delivered in 2014. Two days later, I reported that the resolution of a dispute with the United States over the F-35 would result in Israel forfeiting the technological advantage of using some of its own technologies in the place. JPost now has more bad news: The F-35 is two years behind production schedule.

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Israel Matzav: Awesome: F-35 ordered by Israel is 2 years behind schedule

Israel Matzav: Good news: Israel and US resolve differences over F-35

Good news: Israel and US resolve differences over F-35

There's good news this morning. Israel and the United States have resolved their differences over the purchase by Israel of the US-made F-35 stealth fighter jet. The differences related to the inclusion of Israeli technology in the jet's computer systems.

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Israel Matzav: Good news: Israel and US resolve differences over F-35

Israel Matzav: F-35 purchases held up over computer access

F-35 purchases held up over computer access

I have discussed the purchase by Israel from the United States of the stealth-enabled F-35 fighter jet, most recently here. In that post, I noted that the United States was refusing to let Israel install its own technologies in the jets. With the cancellation of the F-22 Raptor program by the Obama administration, Israel has felt a greater need than previously to purchase the F-35. This morning, JPost is reporting that the F-35 purchases are being held up again, this time over Israel's request to be granted access to the plane's internal computer mainframe. As a result, Israel may choose to upgrade existing F-15's instead.

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Israel Matzav: F-35 purchases held up over computer access