Britain remains on board next-generation fighter jet plan with Japan, Italy

Excellent news. Now that the US cannot be trusted for at least the next four years, Japan must strengthen its cooperation with other free nations, and it is doing exactly that.

The other encouraging point is that this fighter will be available for export. Defense exports are an area that Japan can, and should, develop in terms of both its economy, and contributing to global readiness in order to counter the growing threat from aggressive, authoritarian states.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68662465

(And before anyone says it: no, this isn't prohibited by Japan's constitution or laws.)

Unfortunately, Japan is in charge of the onboard software,Italy the safety equipment and the U.K the inflight catering.

Now that the US cannot be trusted for at least the next four years.

I about fell out of office chair laughing at this comment.

So you’re saying, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, General Dynamics , Airbus, BAE Systems, Dassault Aviation, Rockwell Collins, TransDigm Group Inc. ,Elbit Systems of America ,Saab Sensis Corporation, Nasco Aircraft Brake, NMG Aerospace, Caliber Sales Engineering, Alpine Advanced Materials, AB Aerospace, Bell Flight, United Rotorcraft. Avio Aero, GE Aviation. And I go on.

None of these companies can be trusted because Donald Trump was elected?

Thats what your saying?  

As someone with thirty plus years working with the DOD contractors and active duty. 

This comment you typed is so off the chart and false. So, miscalculated and dead to rights wrong. 

The F-35 Lightning II is considered one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world. Fact. 

Every company listed above had a hand in developing the F-35 program. 

What a load of nonsense. The program talked about in the article will rely heavily on every company listed above. 

And please do challenge me on the topic. I am an expert.

Starmer seems happy to keep spending on weapons and sending unlimited cash to Zelensky yet let’s the elderly die of cold in the winter.

Excellent! Good news. The UK has a history since the 60s of starting something and the. Cancelling or changing things. Or selling stuff off. I was also expecting the UK to sell off its carriers to India.

Five FamiliesToday  06:04 pm JST

Now that the US cannot be trusted for at least the next four years.

I about fell out of office chair laughing at this comment. 

So you’re saying, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, General Dynamics , Airbus, BAE Systems, Dassault Aviation, Rockwell Collins, TransDigm Group Inc. ,Elbit Systems of America ,Saab Sensis Corporation, Nasco Aircraft Brake, NMG Aerospace, Caliber Sales Engineering, Alpine Advanced Materials, AB Aerospace, Bell Flight, United Rotorcraft. Avio Aero, GE Aviation. And I go on. 

None of these companies can be trusted because Donald Trump was elected? 

Thats what your saying? 

As someone with thirty plus years working with the DOD contractors and active duty. 

This comment you typed is so off the chart and false. So, miscalculated and dead to rights wrong. 

The F-35 Lightning II is considered one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world. Fact. 

Every company listed above had a hand in developing the F-35 program. 

What a load of nonsense. The program talked about in the article will rely heavily on every company listed above. 

And please do challenge me on the topic. I am an expert.

I think they’re referring to the US president being a bit flaky on things. Not the companies. He’s prepared to throw Ukraine under the bus. He might be prepared to throw Taiwan under the bus too. So it’s good that we also have a choice of manufacturers. The US was very flaky in the Falklands war , and had to be pressured to give the UK its latest sidewinder. So it is important that other countries develop their own hardware so they can (free of political fall out or sanctions) continue to fight without Turing to the US. Let’s look at the harrier which the US laughed at because it didn’t go supersonic. After an amazing kill ratio in the Falklands the US marine corps saw it had merit especially after taking out the Skyhawks and Mirages. the US may not be flaky but We think Trump is. Appeasement is what he favors. Russia took Georgia, Crimea, Donbass, and we did nothing as appeasement was the order of the day.

Five FamiliesToday 06:04 pm JST

So you’re saying, Lockheed Martin...

The F-35 Lightning II is considered...

It doesn't matter how capable or trustworthy these companies are: if the political will isn't there, relationships and alliances will atrophy. I don't dispute the talents of the companies you cite, but they don't set the national defense policy: Trump will.

Trump has threatened not to defend NATO allies; said he'd "encourage Russia to do whatever the hell it wants;" threatened to pull troops out of South Korea; hit South Korea (and no doubt soon Japan) with outrageous cost-sharing demands; said that Taiwan should pay the US protection money, despite there being no actual treaty, etc.

Where foreign policy is concerned, Trump simply cannot be trusted. And that's why I said that Japan must strengthen its cooperation with other free nations (as it is wisely doing).

If you don't believe me, just look at what's coming out of governments around the world. The "moshitora" plans everyone has are there for a reason: Trump cannot be trusted.

The American manufacturers can be trusted. But the POTUS/47 may hinder and obstruct sales and transfers since he has always operated on a "what's in it for me?" philosophy. And he has shown that he doesn't seem to care whether it involves an ally or an adversary.

isabelle

Where foreign policy is concerned, Trump simply cannot be trusted. And that's why I said that Japan must strengthen its cooperation with other free nations (as it is wisely doing).

You are talking about the guy who did not start any new stupid foreign wars for 4 years, worked on winding down existing ones, kept a lid on the Middle east conflict and got Saudi to sign one to the Abraham accords? That one? Talk about living in a bubble world.

Unfortunately, Japan is in charge of the onboard software,Italy the safety equipment and the U.K the inflight catering.

oh nooooo!!!!! Not the catering! LoL.Bring back the spitfire, hurricane and the typhoon. lol. We could actually make and design some great world beater then. lol. This is tongue in cheek.

Anyway I often think were building Planes soooooo expensive we can’t actually afford to lose them. Or produce replacements fast enough if the brown stuff did hit the spiny air cooling thing.

one thing I will guarantee. It’ll be over budget, late, but should pack a punch.

Unfortunately, Japan is in charge of the onboard software,Italy the safety equipment and the U.K the inflight catering.

This is an allusion to the old joke about the police, cooks and whatever else in heaven and hell, if I'm not mistaken.

Biden didn't start any wars. It was Russia that invaded Ukraine and Hamas attacked Israel. Trump signed a deal with the Taliban and released 5,000 terrorists.

Starmer seems happy to keep spending on weapons and sending unlimited cash to Zelensky yet let’s the elderly die of cold in the winter.

Few frozen biddies vs. the future survival of an entire country? Not a hard call.

I mean you could always go take US citizenship if you're so into the idea of a completely insular, self-serving administration.

falseflagsteveToday  06:06 pm JST

Starmer seems happy to keep spending on weapons and sending unlimited cash to Zelensky yet let’s the elderly die of cold in the winter.

That i believe is an oversimplification.Very popular in todays environment. The UK defence budget has been well below historical levels. Below 2% at one point under the tories. The 1960s was 7% GDP. 70s 5% GDP. In the 80s it was 5.5% and since the end of the USSR, it has been slashed by half due to the peace dividend. As for pensioners going cold. The rich pensioners don't need 300 pounds. The million or so BELOW have not claimed their benefits under pension credit. ,(under the Tories). The triple lock is unaffordable, so the rich get the same increase as the poor pensioners. and no pensioners with a load of money are going to struggle over 300 pounds. The elderly do not die because of the cold. And let's be honest, the UK pension was even worse in the 80s, 90s, and 2000s. and all the extra savings from defence cuts were ploughed into the NHS under the peace dividend. Try not to be melodramatic. Have you seen the state of military housing? terrible!. Even the military hospitals have been cut, and veterans have been dumped on the NHS. The NHS budget, in contrast, has doubled and is 10% of GDP. compared to 5.1% in the 1990s. The real problem with pensioners is the inverted demographics and a self-inflicted Brexit. pensioners don't die of the cold.

You are talking about the guy who did not start any new stupid foreign wars for 4 years, worked on winding down existing ones, kept a lid on the Middle east conflict and got Saudi to sign one to the Abraham accords? That one? Talk about living in a bubble world.

google “useful idiot”, while you’re still allowed to use Google.

ZaphodToday 06:50 pm JST

We already have enough Trump threads and I don't want to turn this into another one (though my comments still stand), but just for the record:

worked on winding down existing ones

I've seen no evidence of Trump winding anything down.

kept a lid on the Middle east conflict

He recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, angering the Palestinians and stirring up trouble unnecessarily. He also assassinated Qasem Soleimani, and hit Syria with missile strikes. Just three examples of Middle East intervention.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_recognition_of_Jerusalem_as_capital_of_Israel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Qasem_Soleimani

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Shayrat_missile_strike

and got Saudi to sign one to the Abraham accords

Again, angering the Palestinians (and many Arabs), as it was nothing more than appeasement of the Israeli government. Many analysts cite this as one of the reasons for the Hamas attacks.

https://time.com/6339889/cancel-abraham-accords/

Even before the attacks, many had condemned the accords.

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/5/18/the-utter-failure-of-the-abraham-accords

This is nothing about Trump, enough already.

Well done,all those who are experienced enough to understand sarcasm.

The F-35 Lightning II is considered one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world. Fact. 

but the f-35 loses to the f-22 every time.

and satellite detection methods already negates radar stealth designs now. imagine in the future.

Lockheed Martin, Boeing, General Dynamics , Airbus, BAE Systems, Dassault Aviation, Rockwell Collins, TransDigm Group Inc. ,Elbit Systems of America ,Saab Sensis Corporation, Nasco Aircraft Brake, NMG Aerospace, Caliber Sales Engineering, Alpine Advanced Materials, AB Aerospace, Bell Flight, United Rotorcraft. Avio Aero, GE Aviation.

Remind me again why America is constantly at war? Something that Julian Assange said.

Meanwhile China will reveal its second 5th generation multi-role fighter, the J-35A, at the Zhuhai Airshow this week.

isabelle

We already have enough Trump threads and I don't want to turn this into another one

Well, then don't. Fact is, there is no way anybody can seriously defend the current dumpster fire of foreign policy disasters of the current administration. The previous one was preferrable by whatever matrix you use. And new war toys do not change that.

The design cycle is cheap. Very little will be spent during the current term. Someone else will axe it later if it becomes too costly. Cheap PR for now to cover up the economic disaster of Brexit and its long term consequences.

Pukey2Nov. 10  09:39 pm

Remind me again why America is constantly at war? Something that Julian Assange said.

well I think this is where Trump did have a valid point. They were always seen as the global policeman. (Start ghostbusters theme music) when you on your own? And you attacked ? Pick up that phone? Who you gonna call? France? Germany? Japan?(good luck with that one) the UK. China?Canada? No! It is the US. I hate to say it but after the fall of the USSR and the Warsaw pact, the Europeans did slash defence spending, relying on the U.S, and NATO to do the business . Look at Kosovo, look Kuwait,Saudi Arabia/ Iraq, Afghanistan .look at I hate to say it again. He did have a fare point. UK defence spending is half its 80s budget, most of NATO failed to meet the minimum, thee minimum spending requirements. (Not all) . And finally th companies listed make good stuff. Cause they have the money, the knowledge and the production capabilities. Most countries don’t have that capability. When America stays out of stuff, the brown stuff hits the fan. . When America is engaged, the bully on the block, stops, and has a think about it.

deanzaZZRToday  02:02 am JST

Meanwhile China will reveal its second 5th generation multi-role fighter, the J-35A, at the Zhuhai Airshow this week.

and some new aircraft carriers to boot. The peace dividend is well over now.

Now that the US cannot be trusted for at least the next four years.

I about fell out of office chair laughing at this comment.

So you’re saying, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, General Dynamics , Airbus, BAE Systems, Dassault Aviation, Rockwell Collins, TransDigm Group Inc. ,Elbit Systems of America ,Saab Sensis Corporation, Nasco Aircraft Brake, NMG Aerospace, Caliber Sales Engineering, Alpine Advanced Materials, AB Aerospace, Bell Flight, United Rotorcraft. Avio Aero, GE Aviation. And I go on.

So as somebody who is on the DoD side of the relationship i would have to say none of those corporations, not a single one, could be trusted regardless of who occupies the White House or what party controls Congress. All of them are out to make as much money as they can by whatever means they can, and if you have ever attended one of our Industry Insight seminars you know that being late on deliverables and being over budget are both great for the corporation's stock price and cash flow. As a result these firms are run by people who do not excel in making good products, some are good but some are complete garbage, but every one of these firms very much do excel in being late and over budget. It is the most profitable way to do business. And that friends is independent of who is running the country.

The design cycle is cheap. 

Sure thing. How many development programs have you participated in? Getting a modern combat aircraft through the development and test phase is a billion Dollar or more proposition. That is just to get you to Low Rate initial Production.

But hey, I only work this stuff for a living and have been doing it for 17+ years. What do I know?

tMeanwhile China will reveal its second 5th generation multi-role fighter, the J-35A, at the Zhuhai Airshow this week.

The USAF already has a 6th gen fighter prototype NGAD flying for a couple of years and a 6th gen bomber flying and in Low Rate Initial Production.

Also, stealth for the F-35 is not so much dependent on the airframe and coatings. One of the design briefs for the F-35, since it was intended to be sold abroad, was that even if an adversary was able to examine one, they would not learn anything of great interest. The airframe has to be conventional. Stealth on the F-35 comes from electronics and only the US and UK get the full L-O package in peacetime. The stealth comes from software, not the hardware. It is highly doubtful that the Chinese have the software since it is among the most closely guarded of secrets. Without that there is no great degree of stealth. Just another tactical jet.