"Lyle" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 23 Jun 2004 10:25:58 -0700, hobo wrote:

In article ,
John Cook wrote:


With JSF, the US forces will have a block approach:
* Block 1: basic capability with JDAM and AIM-120
* Block 2: more refined mission software, more weapons certified
* Block 3: 100 per cent of mission software, all the hardware
certified

I can understand not wanting to sell TURKEY or even Israel top of the
line equipment, but if we can't trust Oz and the UK then we should just
say screw it and go home.
fighting in western europe is different then say fighting in the
middle east or far east. Oz just has to worry about fighting in the
far east, Israel/Turkey in the Middle East, where as US has to be able
to fight all over the world. WHy do you think the Israeli and Saudi
F-15's are designed to fight only in that part of the world. If they
payed the Full price for a US version, they would get a plane that
would be able to fight in any part of the world.

No, it has been indicated that they are not allowed to buy the full version.

I'm surprised the Labor party hasn't jumped on this, electorally a "we sent
troops to support them and now we can only get a second rate plane from our
supposed friends" message might well impact in exactly the area that Labor
does most poorly, the actual supporters of the Iraq conflict, who tend to
be Lib/Nat voters.

At the momement, the poss are pretty close and Labor taking votes from the
Greens etc won't help (because they get their preferences anyway), but
nabbing just one or two percent from the Lib/Nats might tip the scales.