2006, a decisive year \u00a0for \u00a0the Joint Strike Fighter, or the aeronautic equivalent of the invasion of Iraq. The US attempt to impose the F35, Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) \u2013 the \u00ab 21st-century \u00a0air-fighter \u00bb, to their allies is one of the thorniest problems NATO must solve by autumn 2006. Born in the mid-90s, amidst the euphoria of a US convinced that the 21st-century belonged to them, the JSF project is equivalent \u00a0in terms \u00a0of armament \u00a0programme \u00a0to the invasion \u00a0of Iraq \u00a0in terms \u00a0of strategy. The rationale is simple: to develop a multitask air-fighter (Air Force, Navy, \u2026) adapted to the challenges of the first half of the new century, and have it co-financed by the Allies, in order to monopolise \u00a0an central segment of the world\u2019s military air force (and eliminate the competition \u00a0as a result of the economy made thanks to a massive production \u00a0of 5,000 units expected). \u00a0On paper, everything \u00a0is perfect. And that\u2019s fine since it is planned that the plane will be sold \u201con paper\u201d without any prior tests.<\/p>\n
The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, \u00a0Norway, Turkey, \u2026 the most faithful of Washington\u2019s \u00a0allies and\/or those most interested in sharing part of the technological and economic fallouts of this wide- ranging \u00a0JSF project, \u00a0sign \u00a0in. Opposite \u00a0the JSF are three \u00a0aircrafts, \u00a0out of which \u00a0two\u00a0 already \u00a0in operation: \u00a0the Swedish \u00a0Gripen, the French Rafale and the EuroFighter \u00a0jointly developed by Germany, the UK (which has two pies in the oven), Spain and Italy.<\/p>\n
The \u00a0JSF \u00a0soon \u00a0sinks \u00a0into \u00a0an \u00a0endless \u00a0series \u00a0of \u00a0technical \u00a0and \u00a0financial \u00a0problems. The required \u201ctechnological \u00a0leaps\u201d appear too complex and technologies\u00a0 improperly mastered by the US defence industry. Simultaneously, 9\/11-related political constraints pile up on US technology transfers and limit the fallouts expected by foreign partners (see Turkey). Meanwhile their financial contributions are needed more than ever as JSF development \u00a0expenses take off, contrary to the plane itself which remains a concept. The cost goes from 75 million USD up to 100 million USD per unit though the aircraft decreases in sophistication as a result of various decisions to abandon some equipments…<\/p>\n