Italian industry hits out at JSF technology transfer

Published: Apr 11, 2006
Source: www.flightglobal.com



With negotiations on participation in production of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) entering a critical phase, Italy's government has come under fire from its industry for taking too soft a position on US technology transfer restrictions.

Alenia Aeronautica president Giorgio Zappa has said, in a New York Times interview, that access to sensitive technology is a key issue in the negotiations, adding that his company is not satisfied with the answers so far received from the USA.

The final round of negotiations on the memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the JSF production, sustainment and follow-on development phase takes place this month in the USA. While Australia and the UK have threatened not to sign the MoU unless technology transfer issues are resolved, Italy has been more cautious.continue..