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Last update - 06:41 25/11/2009
U.S. may allow Israeli upgrades to F-35 fighter jet
By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: F-35 fighter jet, IAF 

The United States is expected to ease its opposition to incorporating Israeli systems in the F-35 if Israel expedites its order for the stealth strike fighter. Sources in the defense establishment confirmed Tuesday a Reuters report that the U.S. has offered a version of the F-35 that would include command and control systems developed in Israel, as well as the ability to carry advanced missiles that are made in Israel.

Reuters says that the Pentagon is still opposed to the introduction of an Israeli electronic warfare suite for the version of the fighter that would be procured by the IAF, and this remains a key Israeli condition.

An order from Israel has been delayed for months because of discussions on the issue of Israeli systems, and the aircraft's high cost.
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The IAF would like to place an order for the first 25 F-35s, out of an overall order of 75.

The estimated cost of the deal stands at $14.5 billion. To date, the Pentagon and the maker of the advanced fighter, Lockheed Martin, had refused Israel Air Force requests for substantial changes to the aircraft, so that it would be capable of meeting the IAF's specialized requirements.

The Americans argued that the avionics suite of the F-35 cannot be changed, and the Israeli requests were made at a late stage in the development.

The Americans' willingness to soften their stance is the result of a series of meetings held by Lockheed officials and Israeli defense establishment officials three weeks ago, and also difficulties with the project, particularly concerns that orders by countries participating in the development project will be low.

An extensive series of discussions is being carried out at the Pentagon to assess the delays in the test phase of the aircraft, as well as the overall cost of the project, which is estimated to exceed the original budget by some $15 billion.

A decision by Israel to acquire the F-35 is perceived to be a public relations victory for the maker of the fighter, which hopes that an announcement of such a decision would boost sales to other countries.
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  1.   The entire F35 program is a complete waste of $$$ 07:58  |  idf_sergeant 25/11/09
  2.   Lockheed Martin is... 08:55  |  David James Vickery 25/11/09
  3.   Israeli upgrades to F35 fighter. 09:50  |  David Nigel Braham 25/11/09
  4.   DAOUD VICKERY don`t worry 11:02  |  PETER SM 25/11/09
  5.   The United States is not the sole 11:29  |  Chris Linthwaite 25/11/09
  6.   #1 idf_sarjeant 11:32  |  Ivor Biggun 25/11/09
  7.   #4 At least they actually pay money for it, PETER SM 11:40  |  Johnboy 25/11/09
  8.   technical issues 11:43  |  Jochai Rubinstein 25/11/09
  9.   real problem 12:54  |  Gary 25/11/09
  10.   # 5 chris 13:05  |  Axel 25/11/09
  11.   #10 Axel 13:24  |  Chris Linthwaite 25/11/09
  12.   Israel cant afford F35 and its designed for NATO not Israel needs 15:28  |  zionist forever 25/11/09
  13.   "Condition" or Else We Won`t Buy Them w/ Your $ 15:52  |  Monitor 25/11/09
  14.   #6, Ivor Biggun.... 16:02  |  Silvienne 25/11/09
  15.   To zionist forever... 16:07  |  Silvienne 25/11/09
  16.   #13, Monitor... 16:10  |  Silvienne 25/11/09
  17.   The IAF RUACH Division Is Born! 16:14  |  Lavi 25/11/09
  18.   F35 upgrades 16:17  |  Hans 25/11/09
  19.   zionist forever 16:44  |  zionist forever 25/11/09
  20.   Over a generation beyond 17:14  |  Mark Lincoln 25/11/09
  21.   You guys think America will pay for 17:16  |  Mark Lincoln 25/11/09
  22.   #18 R u serious?? 17:24  |  Hans 25/11/09
  23.   Wrong signal 17:40  |  Jan Elshout 25/11/09
  24.   It never fails to amuse me ... 17:46  |  Axel 25/11/09
  25.   # 11 chris 17:53  |  Axel 25/11/09
  26.   # 12 zionist 17:56  |  Axel 25/11/09
  27.   # 19 zionist 17:59  |  Axel 25/11/09
  28.   To zionist forever... 18:05  |  Silvienne 25/11/09
  29.   #23, Jan.... 18:15  |  Silvienne 25/11/09
  30.   US will pay for it again, stop using our taxes 18:34  |  jj 25/11/09
  31.   How come? did they agree to convert to i slam? 18:45  |  simple simon 25/11/09
  32.   what israel need to buy is peace and not weapons 19:05  |  Tony Silver 25/11/09
  33.   Chris Lint, face it, UK has less 10% of plane, go back 2 corner 19:19  |  Dan 25/11/09
  34.   What does Israel need this plane for anyway? 20:16  |  Silvienne 25/11/09
  35.   #33, Dan to Chris... 20:19  |  Silvienne 25/11/09
  36.   # to Hans 20:57  |  Markos Souza 25/11/09
  37.   walk away. use funds to develop our own next generation UAV`s, 00:33  |  ralph 26/11/09
  38.   F35 02:37  |  alcycle 26/11/09
  39.   Why no complaint about US money to Arab countries? 06:20  |  Raymond in DC 26/11/09
  40.   #37 Well, that`s easy to answer, Raymond 14:10  |  Johnboy 26/11/09
  41.   #37, alcycle.... 17:47  |  Silvienne 26/11/09
  42.   JOHNBOY talks rubbish 07:33  |  PETER SM 27/11/09
  43.   JIHNBOY Rubbish 2 Arabs get military aid as well as Israel. Pay? 07:36  |  PETER SM 27/11/09
  44.   #37 Well, I gotta admire your chutzpah, ralph 08:23  |  Johnboy 27/11/09
  45.   Barrel Shoot 23:14  |  Des 27/11/09
  46.   Israel bought F-16i & F-15i partly because of F-35 risks 14:33  |  Mark Leaman 29/11/09
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