AWST : Export Issues Bedevil JSF
The British worry that obtaining clearances for non-U.S. workers
and other international issues may cause the project to lag
overseas
ROBERT WALL/WASHINGTON
Frustration is building among U.K. government representatives over
the snail's-pace progress the U.S. is making in export control
reform, with even the flagship for cooperation, the Joint Strike
Fighter, mired in delays.
Several senior British Defense Ministry officials have voiced their
consternation that at an operational level deployed forces of the
two countries work well together, but in defense industrial
relations that spirit of cooperation is lagging. Britain's minister
for defense procurement, Lord Bach of Lutterworth, has complained
that "real progress remains painfully slow." And, he added, the
U.S. remains "one of the hardest markets to crack."
In recent months, Pentagon officials have repeatedly touted the
F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) as a model of international
cooperation and a clear sign the U.S. is committed to working more
closely with allies. In fact, Pentagon acquisition chief E.C.
(Pete) Aldridge, Jr., has said cooperation on other projects will
emulate JSF. But several problems have cropped up with JSF, British
government and industry representatives said at a recent National
Defense Industrial Assn. and Defense Manufacturers Assn. meeting on
U.S.-U.K. ties.
For instance, Bach noted that it takes the U.S. government a long
time to issue work permits to British employees. British government
and industry are the largest partners with the U.S. in the massive
fighter modernization program. The problem seems to be a recurring
theme, since British company representatives voiced similar
frustrations in the mid-1990s when the project was still known as
the Joint Advanced Strike Technology.
Moreover, JSF has made slow progress in pioneering the use of the
Global Project Authorization--one of a series of reforms the U.S.
government unveiled in 2000 as the Defense Trade Security
Initiative (DTSI). The agreement would ease the sharing of
unclassified data among U.S. and foreign JSF industry partners.
After months of interdepartmental wrangling in the U.S., the State
Dept. finally has given its approval. But now JSF prime contractor
Lockheed Martin is concerned it could be held liable if another
team member violates the provision of the umbrella license, said an
industry official. "There is no implementation plan," added a
second official. Even when implemented, Bach noted it will ease the
handling of only a small portion of JSF-related data.
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