10.11.2009, 20:59
Gute Nachrichten für das F-35 Programm. Israel kauft wohl mindestens 25 F-35, der Widerstand gegen das Flugzeug ist wohl nicht so stark wie es zwischendurch ausgesehen hat.
Wenn also alles gut läuft bekommt die IAF ab 2014 mindestens 25 F-35I für weniger als 130 Mio US-$.
IMO vor allem interessant das die "I"-Variante mittlerweile nur noch eine Kostenfrage zu sein scheint.
Schon interessant wie die USA und Lockheed Martin von ja praktisch "no way" zu "as long as you pay" gewechselt sind.
Zitat:Most advanced, expensive fighter jet headed to Israel<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1127046.html">http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1127046.html</a><!-- m -->
The largest defense deal in Israeli history, for the purchase of the F-35 stealth fighter aircraft, is advancing, slowly but surely.
The rounds of talks among the defense establishment, the Pentagon and manufacturer Lockheed-Martin have significantly narrowed the gaps between the parties.
The United States is scheduled to respond next week to Israel's express request for 25 of the jets.
Jerusalem is to reach a final decision by early 2010, and there's a good chance a deal will be signed by the middle of the year.
Assuming Lockheed maintains its original production timetable the first fighters will be delivered in 2014.
[...]
This is the main argument for buying the aircraft, especially in light of the fact that it now seems likely that Tehran will eventually the S-300 advanced air defense system from Russia, making stealth capability all the more important for Israeli fighters.
In the meantime, however, the timetables have diverged: Unless stopped, Iran's nuclear program may reach maturation within two years, but the delivery date for the F-35 is still far away. Some senior Israeli army officers are citing this in their call to delay the purchase.
They argue that it will use up most of the U.S. military aid to Israel without being on hand when needed.
[...]
In the meantime, the Americans have eased their stance on Israel's request to include locally made electronics systems. A major issue in this would be the cost of the specialized "suite" Israel would like to develop for its order of F-35s.
This makes the aircraft more expensive, but much of the price also depends on the volume. For example, if the price of 25 aircraft, including many other components, comes to $130 million each, then an order of 75 may lower the per-unit price to $100 million.
The head of the Planning Directorate of the Israel Defense Forces, Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, told Haaretz in September that in any event the cost of a single aircraft is expected to be much lower than $130 million, which he described as "exaggerated."
[...]
Wenn also alles gut läuft bekommt die IAF ab 2014 mindestens 25 F-35I für weniger als 130 Mio US-$.
IMO vor allem interessant das die "I"-Variante mittlerweile nur noch eine Kostenfrage zu sein scheint.
Schon interessant wie die USA und Lockheed Martin von ja praktisch "no way" zu "as long as you pay" gewechselt sind.