Despite joining late, Israel is keen to have a say in the final JSF configuration
The Washington DC-based Israeli air force JSF programme liaison office has a dual problem - howto influence the JSF's configuration and how to help the Israeli aerospace industry get work related to the programme.
At face value, the issues are identical to those confronting the programme's other international partners. But Israel's late decision to join makes the task look almost impossible. Regardless, Brig Gen Zeev Snir, head of the air force's materiel and engineering directorate, says influencing the configuration "is their main task but they will also have to help the Israeli aerospace industry get work".
Israel officially joined the programme on 13 February as a Security Co-operation Participant, paying an entry fee of $150 million. The move followed a last-minute effort by the Israeli defence ministry to join, after the combined criticisms of local industry and the air force reached a crescendo. The ministry's delay in signing up to the systems development and demonstration (SDD) phase, despite clear air force interest in the aircraft, is generally interpreted as evidence that the Israeli government did not realise the urgency of joining the programme early.
However, Amos Yaron, director-general of the Israeli defence ministry, says there was opposition "from certain countries" to Israeli participation. Shimon Eckhaus, Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) vice-president for marketing and business development, adds: "There were hesitations in Israel and some of thepartners did not want us in."
Kuti Mor, a former deputy director-general in charge of defence policy and planning at the defence ministry, claims that most of the international opposition came from European JSF partners. "These countries are concerned that Israel will have too much of an influence on the final configuration." Mor says Israel "is known to make many modifications to allow later installation of its specialised systems".
Stealth considerationsThe air force is expected to purchase at least 100 F-35s to replace Lockheed Martin F-16A/Bs and McDonnell Douglas F-4 2000s. Both the conventional and STOVL JSF configurations are being assessed, says Joshua Shani, Lockheed Martin's vice-president Israel. Snir says adapting the F-35 to meet the IAF's specific operational requirements will be a major challenge. "The design of the F-35 as a stealth fighter will force us to change everything we know about performing these changes," he adds.
Electronic warfare (EW) modifications are one example, Snir says. "We have the best EW systems on our fighters. The question is whether such a system on the F-35 will be needed." Similar questions will apply to fitting Israeli-made weapon systems. "How would such additions affect the stealth of the F-35? We don't know, but will have to know before we deploy the fighter," he adds.
Whether these concerns will translate into an impact on the final aircraft configuration in the SDD phase remains unknown. Snir says that "we know that our ability to do that at this stage is very limited. But if we discover a need for a dramatic change we will try to convince them that it is essential also for the other partners." Sorting out the issues is a major priority for the air force's JSF liaison office in Washington, he adds.
Shani says the air force's desire for integration of specific systems into the baseline JSF will clearly be difficult. "It seems almost impossible now, but it may become possible in advanced blocks."
Notwithstanding, Yaron says gaining a place for generic systems in the SDD and low-rate initial production (LRIP) configuration phase aircraft is a priority for Israeli companies. An initial success has been the selection of Vision Systems International (VSI) to develop the JSF helmet-mounted display (HMD) system. VSI is a joint venture between Elbit Systems subsidiary EFW and Rockwell Collins-owned Kaiser Electronics. The contract, worth $84.6 million, covers the SDD phase and planning for LRIP.
The contract requires VSI to develop and deliver prototype and production HMD units, for use in JSF development and integration laboratories, JSF simulators and the JSF flight-test platforms. It also has options for technology refreshment and operational test and evaluation spares. Full production contracts are expected to follow. VSI is already supplying the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System for US Air Force F-15s and F-16s and US Navy F/A-18s.
Eckhaus says IAI sees JSF participation as "critical for our presence in the combat aircraft market", particularly if the JSF is the last new manned fighter developed by Western nations.
Source: Flight International
