Well at least they have learnt one lesson from their ridiculous 110 volt system.

Perhaps they could now design some decent plugs!

I also believe that all the IFF kit in our "sovereign" fast jets (Tornado/Typhoon) are from Raytheon Systems in Virginia; how's that for ITAR-free! :ugh:

Plus the RADAR in Sentinel and Sentry are subject to ITAR.

Both IFF and RADAR are individually singled out in the US Munitions List (USML) for ITAR.

I would therefore concur that the "Operational Sovereignty" argument is dead and buried. If COTS saves another school, hospital or public services then "Operational Sovereignty" is very difficult to justify in today's financial climate.

iRaven

ITAR raises it's ugly little head wherever the manufacturer is owned by US registered company, irrespective of location or indeed history; when Smiths were bought up by GE there were difficulties over the supply of British manufactured/designed components urgently needed for an operational airframe until the requests could be presented to the appropriate Senate committee.
Sovereignty went out with the introduction of 'The Market Place' (and perhaps some outrageously unfair protectionist policies from our 'special' friends across the water)

Yes, the cousins hide behind ITAR for even the most basic of technologies. It's becoming a bit of a farce going to somewhere like ARSAG only to find the Spams won't discuss anything because of 'ITAR' restrictions. So you find European manufacturers freely discussing their products, but smiling suits from Boeing, Jeppesen and the like hiding behind their 'ITAR' shield...:\

B Word,

Yes I know all about ITAR thank you very much :)

bin the Tranche 1's???
 

He cant be serious can he? There not even all in service yet! The tax payer may be defence blind'ish, but their not going to fall for that one surely? Isnt that a Tranche 1 in the vid? 4 Paveway, 4 AMRAAM plus external fuel and able to handle being thrown around the sky to boot - whats wrong with that?? Retain the T1s for AD of the UK/FI and QRA, and use the Tranche 2/3's for exped stuff I say - thats if johnny foreigner doesn't gobble them all.....:*

surley you can hang anything from an aircraft for a dispaly getting it to safely seperate is a tad more tricky and land where you want it to is the bit that causes the huge bills

Absolutely! the RC&J clearance is 'relatively' easy and independent of the Tranche, the tricky and expensive bits are the avioncis and software that make the darn thing any use!

Hmnn... the USMC is looking for 22 Sqns of F35s. That kind of puts our likely 6+ into perspective. :confused::eek: