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New dawn for the F-35?
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DID has reported the friction and threats to the F-35 program created by the USA’s ITAR restrictions on military technology transfer. These restrictions were a barrier to allied participants’ wish to be full participants in the project, and to be able to maintain their aircraft without always having to go hat in hand to the USA. Stealth technologies like the F-35’s radar-absorbing paint, software source code underpinning the aircraft’s equipment and weapons integration, and agreements on follow-on development of after-market capabilities that British firms could manufacture and market without requiring US permission were the key issues for the UK – but as DID’s reporting shows, the UK is not alone in its concerns.

Our March 2006 article “British JSF Prospects Looking Up” offered a complete history of the issue, and indicated progress…

Subsequently, DID’s F-35 Program focus article covered subsequent statements from the British Defence Secretary (July 11/06) and a program PEO US Rear Admiral Steven L Enewold (July 18/06) which indicated that the sides were very close to an agreement.

Now Inside Defense reports that U.S. and British defense officials have inked a new agreement on the transfer of sensitive technologies for the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. Pentagon acquisition bigwig Kenneth Krieg and UK MoD chief of procurement Sir Peter Spencer reportedly signed an agreement on July 18, 2006, setting forth a joint statement of principles for Britain to achieve “operational sovereignty” of any F-35 Lightning II aircraft it buys.

The next step will be a series of classified annexes to the agreement that will spell out the procedures and understandings for specific technologies within the program. These are expected to be in place by November, 2006, paving the way for a December 2006 or early 2007 agreement on go-forward production arrangements among the consortium allies.

See the full Inside Defense article.