Israeli Finance Minister Contests Purchase of F-35 Stealth Fighter Jets

[Lankan Ranger]

Israeli Finance Minister Contests Purchase of F-35 Stealth Fighter Jets

Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz has thrown a spoke in the wheel of Israel's planned purchase of 20 American F-35 Stealth aircraft at a cost of $2.7 billion: At Sunday's cabinet meeting, he got Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to promise that acquisition of the planes, which are designed to greatly reduce the chance of being spotted by radar or other detection systems, will be considered by a forum of senior ministers - either the security cabinet, the "septet" of top ministers or some other group.

Netanyahu was responding to Steinitz's contention at the meeting that such an important decision, which has enormous defense and economic implications, should not be left to the defense minister, the Israel Defense Forces chief of staff and the commander of air force.

Steinitz argued that such a purchase should be considered and approved by a senior group of ministers, including some with responsibility for economic issues. He said the purchase of the F-35s from American firm Lockheed Martin could have far-reaching implications for Israel's own defense industries.

Defense officials had argued that the purchase would be funded entirely by the military aid the United States gives Israel. But Steinitz countered that the purchase would also require a significant shekel outlay for pilot training, hangar construction and maintenance equipment, among other items.

The finance minister said consideration also had to be given to Washington's opposition to the installation of Israeli systems and missiles on the plane. This American dictate would bar the plane from being outfitted with radar built by Israel Aerospace Industries' Elta division or missiles produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

But the U.S. has agreed to reciprocal purchases of equipment from Israel's defense industries totaling between $4 billion and $9 billion.

Finance Ministry officials said the ban on installing Israeli systems on the Stealth would be a major blow to Israel's defense industry. In particular, the purchase of American missiles would hurt development of new Israeli missile systems.

Steinitz acknowledged, however, that the reciprocal sales agreement with the U.S. could remedy this situation.

But the ban also poses another problem: Other countries that purchase the aircraft will also be barred from buying such Israeli military systems. This is in contrast to the situation with previous American fighters, on which Israeli components have been installed. Between 10% and 15% of every new F-16 made in America, for instance, consists of Israeli systems.

ASIAN DEFENCE: Israeli Finance Minister Contests Purchase of F-35 Stealth Fighter Jets

 

[bc040400065]

Two things that i found interesting in this report....

But the U.S. has agreed to reciprocal purchases of equipment from Israel's defense industries totaling between $4 billion and $9 billion.



Between 10% and 15% of every new F-16 made in America, for instance, consists of Israeli systems.

 

[Thomas]

Two things that i found interesting in this report....

shouldn't surprise people, most major new defense projects now use components from other countries. Why should the Israeli's be any different if they make a quality product? Though I guess it might bother some that Pakistan flies F-16's equipped with Israeli made parts. The same goes for civilian projects as well. have you seen how many foreign subcontractors there are for the 787 dream liner?

 

[WAQAS119]

shouldn't surprise people, most major new defense projects now use components from other countries. Why should the Israeli's be any different if they make a quality product? Though I guess it might bother some that Pakistan flies F-16's equipped with Israeli made parts. The same goes for civilian projects as well. have you seen how many foreign subcontractors there are for the 787 dream liner?

Not only the quality but cost is also reduced through out sourcing!

 

[marcos98]

F-35I will have 600-gal tank

Israel is pressing ahead with its purchase of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, after securing U.S. approval to install Israeli munitions on the aircraft and a pledge to adjust the electronic warfare suite to emerging Middle East threats.

“The aircraft will be designated F-35I, as there will be unique Israeli features installed in them,” a senior Israel air forceofficial tells Aviation Week.

Israel’s initial batch will be almost identical to the international JSF offered to other countries, with one difference: The F-35s manufactured for Israel will include several cockpit interfaces to accommodate the air force’s command, control, communications, computer and intelligence systems. The F-35 main computer will enable a plug-and-play feature for Israeli equipment

The U.S. also is not standing in the way of an Israeli requirement to install a 600-gal. detachable fuel tank to increase the F-35’s range. Although the deployment would undermine the JSF’s stealth benefit, “in some missions, you can fly nonstealthy part of the way and become stealthy as you enter the danger zone,” explains the air force official, hinting at a potential confrontation with Iran.

However, the fielding timeline for the JSF means it does not feature in any possible near-term Israeli plans to attack Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Moreover, several senior officers of the Israel Defense Forces and defense ministry officials still think the F-35’s limited payload capability and range should have driven Israel to consider other alternatives, such as more F-15s.

The air force has won that argument, although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu still has to endorse the decision of the defense minister, Ehud Barak, to proceed with the purchase. Negotiations with Lockheed Martin on the specific costs are ongoing, but the air force plans to begin receiving its fighters in 2015.

According to the agreement now being formalized, Israel will pay $2.75 billion for the procurement, including support and training costs. Israel hopes to buy 20 fighters for that money, although that will require further cost-cutting by Lockheed Martin, as that amount would currently only pay for 19 of the aircraft.

The air force plans to receive the first JSF for test flights in the U.S. in 2015. Three aircraft would be delivered in 2015, and another three in 2016. The rest would follow in 2017.

Years of negotiations on Israeli requirements to install indigenous technologies on the F-35 as well as to include Israeli industries in the project were concluded during a meeting between Netanyahu and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on July 7.

Israel was forced to realize that the highly integrated electronics structure of the F-35 will not enable installment of its own electronic warfare systems on top of the aircraft’s EW suite, and that the U.S. will not grant Israel the source code to alter threat and jamming libraries. Instead, the two countries agreed on a mechanism by which the U.S. will make the required software changes to meet any new threat that might emerge in the region.
For nonstealth missions requiring an active EW system, Israel will be able to fit an external jamming pod on its JSFs.

Owing to a concerted Rafael push, Israel also insisted that it be able to install its future air-to-air missile in the aircraft’s internal weapon bays. While the successor of Rafael’s Python 5 is not even on the drawing board, Israel believes the current U.S.-made air-to-air missiles offered with the F-35 will not be sufficient.

However, Israel is planning to develop an air-to-air derivative of the Stunner dual-mode (radar, infrared) missile, which is being developed by Rafael and Raytheon as part of the David’s Sling counter-missile and rocket system. One threat it aims to neutralize is from “U.S.-made fighters equipped with advanced radars,” says the Israeli air force source, hinting at the pending sale to Saudi Arabia of F-15s equipped with an active, electronically scanned array radar.

An additional requirement is the capacity to install Rafael’s Spice air-to-ground guided bomb in the F-35’s internal bay. In order to fit the Spice internally, Rafael will be required to make structural changes in the weapon, which will demand defense ministry development funding.

Now the air force must develop a proper operational doctrine for the fighter. Several officers admit that while trying the F-35’s simulator, they flew at low altitude, disregarding the aircraft’s stealth capability. “It is always like that with new aircraft,” says the air force source. “We will not be able to fully appreciate the JSF’s capabilities until we receive it.”

The focus also shifts to hammering out details of the purchase plan and, with Lockheed Martin, the procurement cost and payment schedule. Israel will seek a loan to finance the contract and keep payments low in the first year, with the bulk of the money flowing in 2014-15.

Lockheed Martin’s willingness to allow Israeli industrial participation in the project, with work worth $4 billion, sweetened the deal for Israel. The main beneficiaries will be Israel Aerospace Industries, which will build wing parts for the F-35, and Elbit Systems, which provides the helmet-mounted display. Israeli government officials still hope to drive the workshare through the program’s life to $5 billion.

The letter of agreement, which will be issued soon, will call for the acquisition of 75 JSFs. However, following the first batch of 19-20 aircraft, Israel will not be able to fund procurement of more than another 20-25. The air force fighter fleet will thus decrease, as Israel will be forced to decommission its aging F-16A/B fighters before the end of the decade. With 60 F-16 “Netzs” currently in service and only 40-45 new F-35 fighters to be acquired, the order of battle will shrink by nearly 20 fighter aircraft.