Should the US allow Israel to instal its own locally developed systems on the F-35, and how much more effective can the bird be with it.I personally do not see a problem here since we are not going to face the IADF. They have done the same thing with the F-15/16's.

I think he's talking about the Israelis installing their own software on F-35s, which would largely negate the problem of selling tech off to China.

 

The Israelis are also our allies.  Apparently the only ones who don't think so are the ones in the current administration.  Oh, and certain pastors who talk about "them Jews."

 

Can't just say we wont face of against the IDF/AF. They have many times threatened airspace under our control to get at their enemies which opens up the possibility of confrontation. Moreover, they have a history of compromising technology to certain countries in the PACRIM who we would like to keep in the dark on the particulars of our latest technologies.

-DA 

 

 

I probably only know barely enough about this to say something wrong and look stupid, but it's my understanding that the F-35 flight controls/engine controls/weapons/radar/other avionics hardware and software are so integrated that giving access to make any changes/upgrades will require and/or grant access to basically everything--and for at least the proliferation concern if for no other reason, we don't want to grant other nations (especially high-risk nations like Israel) that sort of access.  Therefore any changes/upgrades are a major problem.

One more thing about Israel: outside of the UK there is not a stronger ally of the US. That kind of talk from Dart, and the stance of our current administration towards Israel really makes me sick to my stomach.

-DA 

 But we should not let them cross Iraqi Airspace either.

Why not?

Because we are responsible for the security of Iraq airspace and if we allow the IDF to cross it that would be negligent of our duty to protect it and we would share blame for whatever the IDF/AF did. If this is attacking Iran then the direct consequence of this would be to rewind to 100 to 150 casualties a month in Iraq again and the much more serious possibility of an Iraqi civil war where we would need tens of thousands of troops more to contain. These are prices we are not in position to pay right now. That's why.

-DA 

Agree with you 100% but at what point do we relinquish control of Iraqi airspace back to Iraq? Is it when the last man leaves the country? As far as I'm concerned, if Israel attacks Iran, whether or not they have Iraq's permission or not, the entire region will go up in flames.

If Israel attacks Iran the regional collateral damage could be catastrophic. So long as Americans are in the ME and an attack is coordinated with Washington then we should oppose publicly and physically stop it if it means the IDF/AF is going over Iraqi Airspace. Now before anybody starts flying off the handle I don't think it would ever come to that and simply not giving the Israeli's the over flight permissions would most likely be enough to stop it. If U.S. Fighters rise up to challenge then the IDF/AF would most likely abort because with all of the electronic noise such an event would generate the IDF/AF would lose surprise making a very dubious mission, mission impossible.

I think the Israeli's are well aware of the military and political limitations they face and are unlikely to attempt something like this without US support. Just consider this thread. Israel NEEDS a benefactor like the USA in order to maintain a technologically advanced military and security guarantee. At the end of the day, they must concede to our demands on major issues like this. Our alliance is a matter of national survival for them. Just an unfortunate reality of their geography but reality non the less. Some illegal unilateral strike against Iran would almost certainly end at least temporarily any deliveries of advanced combat weapons systems.

-DA