MoD sets out ultimatum to US over joint strike fighter

Posted on: Mar. 12th, 2006 || Source: observer.guardian.co.uk | E-mail Article | Print Article

MoD sets out ultimatum to US over joint strike fighter

This week, when the US Senate Armed Services Committee will hold hearings on the Pentagon's plan to kill the F-35 alternate engine, UK Defence procurement minister Lord Drayson will tell the Committee that the US must share more technical knowhow with the UK if it is to proceed with the project.

Britain has repeatedly complained about America's reluctance to share critical technological information, and when the Pentagon decided to kill the alternate engine program dispite mutiple bids by Tony Blair to save it, they became even more frustrated.
Confederation of British Industry (CBI) director general Sir Digby Jones said it was time to abandon the special relationship between the two countries.

Although the MoD is still committed to the project, "Drayson has said the MoD is also developing a 'Plan B' option that would involve prolonging the life of RAF Harriers, eventually replacing them with either Eurofighter Typhoons or French Rafale aircraft."

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