[Russia Option?] U.S. Blocks Israeli Access To JSF Over Reports Of Tech Transfers To China

2005-04-26

Geostrategy-Direct, www.geostrategy-direct.com

[IMRA: As it stands now, Israel will only be allowed to buy the "off the shelf" version of the F-35 rather than a "special edition" version that includes Israeli technology to give Israel an edge over their Arab neighbors who will also be supplied the plane by the United States. This creates a problem for Israel: If the Americans are serious about stripping Israel of its edge as punishment, then should Israel join other nations that opt to drop the "single source" approach and also sign up to purchase the next generation Russian platform on condition that the Russians allows Israel to add in its own advanced systems (with the added possibility that Israel may even sell versions of the Israeli systems to some of the Russian's other customers)?.

It is not a pleasant situation - but if America is serious, Israel has to keep its option open.

It should be noted that Russian President Putin repeatedly confirmed to Israeli reporters during his visit last week that Russia was willing to sell Russia's most advanced jets to Israel.]

The Pentagon has suspended Israeli participation in the Joint Strike Fighter project following concerns about Israel's military dealing with China, U.S. officials said.

Defense Department officials said the decision was approved by the Bush administration to protest Israeli military sales to China. The officials said Israeli officials have been banned from attending JSF meetings in Washington despite the country's status as a security cooperation partner.

A Pentagon report on China's military to be made public in several weeks states that China is about to unveil a new jet fighter based on the design of Israel's Lavi fighter, which was developed with U.S. technology.

The U.S. government also has imposed new restrictions on the export of sophisticated technology equipment to Israel.

The action followed a probe by the Defense Technology Security Agency into Israel's sale of Harpy unmanned aerial vehicles to China.

The Harpy drones are flying bombs that loiter and then home in on radar signals. The propeller-driven UAVs were first discovered by U.S. intelligence agencies during large-scale Chinese exercises near Taiwan in 2002.

"We have to know that Israel will not transfer American technology to China, and that especially includes such cutting-edge technology as that of the JSF," a Pentagon official said.

Officials said the Pentagon has also suspended high-level contacts with Israel. Senior Pentagon officials have been told not to visit Israel or meet their Israeli counterparts. In addition, Israeli representatives have been barred from attending meetings in Washington on JSF development.

The Pentagon has examined about 100 Israeli defense and military contracts with China. Officials said about nine Israeli contracts remain in dispute, with the Pentagon regarding them as harmful to the U.S. military presence in the Straits of Taiwan.

Israeli Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz has appointed a former commander of the air force, Maj. Gen. Herzl Bodinger, to represent his office in helping resolve the dispute. The Pentagon has refused to meet Defense Ministry Director-general Amos Yaron, or his assistant, Yekutiel Mor.

"We continue to discuss our concerns about technology transfer issues with our allies, friends and partners and look for them to take a responsible approach with regard to China," said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman.

In 2003, Israel signed a letter of intent to join the JSF, or F-35, program as a security cooperation participant. The status would allow Israel to monitor but not contribute to the development of the JSF. Israel also planned to purchase the JSF when it becomes available for export around 2012.

Source: IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis