The proposed aircraft for the Royal Navy's two new carriers part 2
- From: Christopher <auem28REMOVE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2006 16:38:26 GMT
A while ago if you all recall I posted a post regarding the news in
the Daily Mail saying that Pres Bush had cancelled the £1.7 billion
contract with Britian regarding the JSF.
Which incidently corresponds to the second paragraph of this from
Christopher Bookers column on the 27th November 2005 in the Sunday
Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/11/27/nbook27.xml
Most of the people here seemed to fail to understand the context
regarding my post and *Britain's* part in the JSF program, but that is
now moot and no longer important.
Now, I also said at the end of my original post that "I suppose as an
outside bet the two carriers could be equipped with the navalised
version of the Rafael".
This was on the front page of the business section of today's Mail on
Sunday. Spooky or what. :-)
***************************************************************************************
"Anglo-US defence deals in jeopardy
French fighter jet talks are a major snub to Washington
By Tom McGhie and Jack Gee in Paris
Britain may consider buying up to 150 French fighter jets for two
new-generation aircraft carriers scheduled to go into service with the
Royal Navy in 2013.
If the government went ahead with the £5 billion deal, it would mean
cancelling existing US contracts to supply aircraft for the carriers
and cause a major crisis in Anglo-American relations.
The unexpected verbal offer to buy the Rafale Marine jets came on
January 24 when defence minister John Reid met his opposite number,
Michele Alliot-Marie, for crucial talk in London.
It followed well publicised difficulties between Britain and America
on the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) project, dogged by a row over
sharing technology.
It is understood that Reid said he would consider the French offer.
Even agreeing to give the proposal serious consideration could be seen
as a major snub to the Americans, whose relations with the French on
defence is strained.
The French offer follows American continued refusal to agree to the
transfer of advanced technology on the JSF - the jet being built in
the US by Lockheed Martin with co - operation from Britain.
The Ministry of Defence has already paid the Americans £2 billion for
development.
BAE Systems, Britain's leading defence contractor, which is a vital
partner in the project, was hoping for about £14 billion in
development and production contracts.
The MoD declined to give details of the French offer, but defence
sources in Paris confirmed that a lengthy conversation took place.
The American refusal to share technology means that if one of the
JSF's needed repairs, the work would have to be carried out in
America.
It would also mean British forces would not have the right codes to
arm the planes if they wanted to use them for missions not approved by
the Pentagon.
There is growing anger at the Americans' obduracy over technology
transfer Britain has now made clear that without 'achieving the
appropriate level of sovereignty' over the JSF, it will consider
cancelling the contract.
Washington's reluctance to give up the technology to its closest
military ally is fuelled by fears that Britain might allow foreign
firms access to America's most precious commercial and defence
secrets.
Faced by the refusal to share technology, Lord Grayson, Minister for
Defence Procurement, said: "There has to be a Plan B. We need to make
sure we have done the work needed to ensure we have an option".
The MoD still hopes that the Americans will change their minds.
Meanwhile, it is looking at its options. Giving consideration to the
French offer could strengthen the MoD's negotiating hand with
Washington.
The 60,000-tonne carriers planned for the Royal Navy are designed to
have powerful catapults built into the deck. This means they are not
restricted to the vertical take-off version of the JSF. They could
fire conventional take-off JSF's as well as modified Typhoon
Eurofighters.
The Rafale Marine is already in service and is designed for use on
France's new carrier - identical to those being built for the Royal
Navy.
The decision by Paris to buy the design of the UK carriers for their
own second large carrier makes the French option more palatable.
The French jets cost about £35 million each and would be cheaper, if
probably unpopular, with the forces.
Gerald Howarth, Conservative defence spokesman said: "This shows the
danger of the American refusal to give us the technology. They could
drive us into the arms of the French". "
*******************************************************************************************
It looks like what I said in jest, may happen in real life if Pres
Bush and 'Washington' don't change their minds over the 'technology
transfer' to Britain aspect of the JSF program. As I also said in one
of several reply posts "time and events will tell what happens", so I
guess the story has a few more twists to come.
--
Christopher
.
- Follow-Ups:
- Re: The proposed aircraft for the Royal Navy's two new carriers part 2
- From: Jack Linthicum
- Re: The proposed aircraft for the Royal Navy's two new carriers part 2
- Prev by Date: Re: Long lasting wakes suggest estuary is sick
- Next by Date: Re: The proposed aircraft for the Royal Navy's two new carriers part 2
- Previous by thread: Re: Iranian advisor: We'll strike Dimona in response to U.S. attack
- Next by thread: Re: The proposed aircraft for the Royal Navy's two new carriers part 2
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
