And every one of these points will be the subject of haggling with howls of protest, hair being pulled out, screams of “UNFAIR!!!” and all the rest.
LOL… The howls, hair pulling and screams of unfair are listed below:-
We should be absolutely clear about what our bottom line is on this matter … we will not be able to purchase the aircraft.”
“it is understood that the government is considering alternatives…” which “include prolonging the life of RAF Harriers or buying French Rafale aircraft.”
“We are approaching important decisions that will impact on both UK and US military capability for a generation.” He said that the US needed to understand that a mutual commitment to the JSF was dependant on Britain having “the operational sovereignty that we require”.
“Without the technology transfer to give us the confidence to deliver an aircraft fit to fight on our terms, we will not be able to buy these aircraft … I am spelling this out because it is so important to make our intentions clear. I know the British can be accused of understatement.”
Now your description of howls, hair etc doesn’t seem to fit in with whats being said in a perfectly reasonable manner, (british understatement).
The US expects countries to sign up to buy the JSF
(see http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/sign-up-for-fighter-or-pay-more-later-says-us-company/2006/03/16/1142098602856.html)
and are now putting pressure on the ‘partners’ to sign up quick to avoid being penalised!!, using your style of writing this seem to be pitiful whining from a seller who wants the mug to sign upto a very one sided dodgy deal!!!.
The latest from the GAO is stating the JSF project be slowed to avoid the pifalls the F-22 has so often fallen into and I quote:-
The US Congress’s Government Accountability Office said there had been inadequate testing on the fighter for it to be considered a mature design and that production should be slowed.
“Significant development risk remains, and it is likely that current cost and schedule goals will not be met,” it said in a report.
“To improve the chances for a successful outcome, we are recommending the JSF program delay production and investments in production capability.”
According to DOD and the program office, through its cooperative agreements, the JSF program contributes to armaments cooperation policy in four areas
1• political/military—expanded foreign relations;
2• economic—decreased JSF program costs from partner contributions;
3• technical—increased access to the best technologies of foreign partners; and
4• operational—improved mission capabilities through interoperability with allied systems.
It seems 1 and 3 are not being given the the weight of 2 and 4;-), in fact 1 is damaging foreign relations, and the opposite is true for the 3…;-) Ah they mean the access is one way -> to the US!!!, I see now….
So to sum up we have the opportunity to sign up to a plane that is not been tested (only 1% flight testing complete), will not have a flying production representative airframe flying before production starts in 2007!!!, has doubled in cost so far and to top it all we are not be able to maintain or modify without the US’s approval and manufacture. Hmmm BARGAIN!!!, Oh and we have to give the US increased access to our technologies!!!.
Did i miss something?
Cheers
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