From Defense Aerospace

 

Israel - F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

(Source US Defense Security Cooperation Agency; dated Sept. 29, issued Sept. 30, 2008)

 

WASHINGTON --- On September 26, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft as well as associated equipment and services.

 

The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $15.2 billion.

 

The Government of Israel has requested a possible sale of an initial 25 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) aircraft with an option to purchase at a later date an additional 50 F-35 CTOL or Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft.

 

All aircraft will be configured with either the Pratt and Whitney F-135 engines or General Electric-Rolls Royce F-136 engines.

 

Other aircraft equipment includes: Electronic Warfare Systems; Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence/ Communication, Navigational and Identification (C4I/CNI); Autonomic Logistics Global Support System (ALGS); Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS); Flight Mission Trainer; Weapons Employment Capability, and other Subsystems, Features, and Capabilities; F-35 unique infrared flares; unique systems or sovereign requirements; reprogramming center, Hardware/Software In-the-Loop Laboratory Capability; External Fuel Tanks; and F-35 Performance Based Logistics.

 

Also includes: software development/ integration, flight test instrumentation, aircraft ferry and tanker support, support equipment, tools and test equipment, spares and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical documents, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics personnel services, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $15.2 billion.

 

Israel’s strategic position makes it vital to the United States’ interests throughout the Middle East. Our policy has been to promote Middle East peace, support Israeli commitment to peace with other regional Arab countries, enhance regional stability, and promote Israeli readiness and self-sufficiency. It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives.

 

Israel needs these aircraft to augment its present operational inventory and to enhance its air-to-air and air-to-ground self-defense capability. Israel will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft into its armed forces. The proposed sale will not affect the basic military balance in the region.

 

Implementation of this proposed sale will require multiple trips to Israel involving U.S. Government and contractor representatives for technical reviews/support, program management, and training over a period of 15 years. U.S. contractor representatives will be required in Israel to conduct Contractor Engineering Technical Services (CETS) and Autonomic Logistics and Global Support (ALGS) for after-aircraft delivery.

 

The prime contractors will be:

--Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Fort Worth, Texas

--Pratt & Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Connecticut

--General Electric/Fighter Engine Team, Cincinnati, Ohio

 

There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

 

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

 

This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.

From Aviation Week's ARES Blog

 

Israel Buys F-35A/B Lightning II JSF

Posted by David Eshel at 10/21/2008 11:03 AM CDT

 

The US Government is offering Israel 25 F-35As and an option for 50 F-35A or B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) capable of deploying to unprepared airfields, relieving Israel's Air Force dependency on main operating bases, vulnerable to enemy missile attacks.

 

The unprecedented $15.2 billion aircraft sale package will extend deliveries of aircraft over a period of about 15 years. The entire sale will be financed through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.

 

Israel's ambitions, to integrate indigenous weaponry like the Rafael Python 5 air-to-air missile, the Spice family of precision-guided weapons, or installing Israeli sensors, like the IAI/Elta AESA advanced radar warning and active jamming system, could pose serious problems, as F-35 has a highly integrated sensor suite, which is very hard to replace.

 

As of now, the Israeli version of the F-35 will be configured with the standard JSF systems, but could perhaps be enhanced in the future with indigenous capabilities. The aircraft will be delivered with a standard suite of Electronic Warfare (EW) Systems including unique infrared flares; Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence/ Communication, Navigational and Identification (C4I/CNI). To ensure its operational independence, Israel will receive unique systems complying with sovereign requirements, software reprogramming center and Hardware/Software In-the-Loop Laboratory to simulate how indigenous developments are integrated into the system.

As of now, the Israeli version of the F-35 will be configured with the standard JSF systems, but could perhaps be enhanced in the future with indigenous capabilities. The aircraft will be delivered with a standard suite of Electronic Warfare (EW) Systems including unique infrared flares; Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence/ Communication, Navigational and Identification (C4I/CNI). To ensure its operational independence, Israel will receive unique systems complying with sovereign requirements, software reprogramming center and Hardware/Software In-the-Loop Laboratory to simulate how indigenous developments are integrated into the system.

 

How does this relate to criticisms by the UK of the lack of technology transfer? Is Israel off the bat getting all that the UK was denied or is it different in some way?

How does this relate to criticisms by the UK of the lack of technology transfer? Is Israel off the bat getting all that the UK was denied or is it different in some way?

 

The Brits wanted full access to the software codes. Originally the Israelis wanted to be able to substitute their own electronics and avionics gear (as they often do), but it looks like that obstacle has been overcome. So, sounds to me like they (Israel) will be getting the equipment without the codes.

From DefenseNews

 

Skittish Israel Pares F-35I Extras

Lockheed CEO: More Workshare A Possibility

By barbara opall-rome

Published: 17 November 2008

 

TEL AVIV - Stunned by projected program costs for their Israel-unique version of the F-35, Israel Air Force (IAF) and MoD officials are struggling to pare a hefty list of customized subsystems and add-ons that threaten to ground the aircraft as unaffordable.

 

Meanwhile, the CEO of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) prime contractor Lockheed Martin dangled the possibility of more workshare for Israeli firms if the government places its orders promptly.

 

In September, U.S. program officials gave rough price and availability data to their Israeli counterparts, who reacted with sticker shock to the price tag of $200 million per plane. Since then, both sides have been seeking a new configuration that can meet Israel Air Force performance and budget requirements.

 

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) General Staff had been expecting to pay about $2 billion - $80 million per plane - for the first 25 aircraft.

 

"Their budget was not in sync with the rough order of magnitude data they received. To put it mildly, they were overwhelmed," a U.S. government source said. "The customer was drawing from their experiences with the F-15 and F-16, which are third-generation, rather than a fifth-generation fighter with significant international content that is evolving and becoming real."

 

"It's unbelievable," a member of the IDF General Staff said. "First it was $40 million to $50 million, and then they [the IAF] told us $70 million to $80 million. Now, we're looking at nearly three times that amount, and who's to say it won't continue to climb?"

 

Pentagon estimates, based on Israel's letter of request (LoR) to the Defense Security and Cooperation Agency, put total program costs for Israel's planned 75-aircraft buy as high as $15.2 billion. That figure includes all 75 aircraft, engines, electronic warfare and C4I systems, training and logistics support and a host of other services, features and capabilities, including "unique systems for sovereign requirements." A fairly detailed summary of Israel's LoR was published in a Pentagon notification to Congress dated Sept. 29.

 

U.S. and Israeli sources say government liaisons are meeting or speaking almost daily in attempts to finalize a configuration for a program management review scheduled for mid-December. Once the two sides agree on an F-35I configuration, the U.S. government and prime contractor Lockheed Martin will be in a position to come up with a more reliable price.

 

"The Israelis were very aggressive in their demands, and their LoR was extremely extensive," the U.S. government source said. "The price estimate sent up to Congress was based on an educated guess of the total package. ... Now, they need to pick through the menu of options and separate the nice-to-have from the need-to-have."

 

Meanwhile, Lockheed executives have been doing their best to ease Israeli concerns while supporting government-to-government talks toward a JSF contract commitment.

 

In interviews here, company sources insist that Pentagon estimates to Congress unfairly misrepresented actual costs and that the flyaway price tag is not far removed from initial estimates. In a meeting last month with reporters here, Tom Burbage, Lockheed's vice president and general manager of the JSF program, estimated flyaway costs at $47 million in 2002 dollars or about $80 million in projected 2014 dollars.

 

"Remember, there are three distinct elements to this program," a company representative here said. "There's the baseline aircraft, there's infrastructure, and then you have to factor in all the nonrecurring development and integration costs associated with Israeli-unique systems."

 

He said of Pentagon cost estimates: "It doesn't mean it will cost that much, but just that it could cost that much."

 

More Workshare?

 

In meetings here the week of Nov. 10, Lockheed CEO Robert Stevens encouraged Israeli authorities and industry executives to consider the benefits of early commitment to the program.

 

He noted that seven Israeli firms already have secured a combined $200 million in contracts for JSF, and indicated that local workshare could grow significantly once the government's role in the program is definite. Burbage, in his visit last month, was more explicit, citing a potential $500 million worth of Israeli content for inclusion in the program.

 

"The earlier one can participate in the program, the greater the [industrial] participation," Stevens told reporters here Nov. 9.

 

Stevens wouldn't discuss projected Israeli costs or details regarding local technologies and subsystems to be included in the program.

 

"Our job right now is to support government-to-government discussions on configuration, scheduling and price."

 

Nevertheless, the Lockheed chief said Israel's contractual commitment would generate greater returns on the government's overall acquisition investment.

 

"Capital investment adds to the quality of the product, the sustainability of the product and the satisfaction of the customer," Stevens said. "Israel has an opportunity to become a global partner over time."

 

He added, "Pound for pound and dollar for dollar, there won't be a more affordable, capable and sustainable aircraft than the JSF."

I believe this sale should not go through until the Palestinian issue is resolved. Israel needs to have pressure placed on it to ensure it makes the moves necessary for peace- as do the Palestinian leadership.

I believe this sale should not go through until the Palestinian issue is resolved. Israel needs to have pressure placed on it to ensure it makes the moves necessary for peace- as do the Palestinian leadership.

 

If Palestine was Israel's only worry and threat I would agree. If Israel is denied the tools to keep the other players at bay (the ones where F-35s are useful), Palestine wins by the destruction of Israel through deterioration of defense capability against Israel's conventional militarily stronger foes. So I don't agree that witholding F-35s would be a valid lever. Non-military trade sanctions would be a valid lever, Israel maintains a strong (enough) military but still feels a pinch. I think Israel is one of the few nations where the military equipment as a lever approach is counter-productive.