By not investing in, and having access to, the source code effectively now means that whatever future the British Military aviation industry thought it had is now gone. It is condemned forever to build components only,
F-35 software does not consist of a single, unitary software load. There's lots of software embedded in component subsystems, most notably the radar, engine management, and E/O tracking/threat warning systems.
And what about the RAF's Typhoon? is that merely a component?
because the real knowledge is encapsulated in the software
You've seen the future. All hardware is about to de-materialize into software.
We'll ride in software cars and airplanes fueled by software, eat software, and live in software houses, which will be heated or cooled by software.
and you cannot catch up ...
You're right. There's no hope for Britain. No more aviation industry, and no more BritishF-35 sorties if the US Dept. of Def. sends its super secret ABORT MISSION signal to UK F-35's.
Boo hoo hoo.