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| Britain |
| MPs urge 'plan B' if US drags feet on JSF technology |
| 2006-12-09 |
| Ministers were today urged to consider abandoning the multi-billion pound Joint Strike Fighter project unless the United States agrees within weeks to share sensitive technology. The Government should develop a "plan B" for jets to operate from two new aircraft carriers if a deal is not struck by the end of the year, according to the influential Commons Defence Select Committee. Progress on the £140 billion project - the most expensive single armaments programme in UK military history - has been dogged by wrangles over whether Britain would be given access to the technology powering the high-tech aircraft. Ministers have previously threatened that the UK could pull out of plans to buy up to 150 of the military planes for the RAF and Navy unless America agreed to transfer secrets about its software that Britain argues are needed in order to operate and maintain them independently. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #2 We should wait to share the technology until we find out if the UK wants to be a real country or part of EUrabia. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-12-09 07:59 |
| #1 ...The question is, fall back to what? The new CV is supposedly capable of operating F-18s and/or Rafale - but all that does is give the RN a early-to-mid-90s CV capability. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2006-12-09 06:48 |