Israel cannot fit local EW systems to its F-35s, says US

摘要

The US Department of Defense (DoD) has rejected Israel's request to install indigenous electronic warfare (EW) systems on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSFs) it is planning to procure.rnInstalling additional EW systems on the F-35's integral EW suite requires the source code to the aircraft's software, which the US is keen to withhold from any foreign customer, even the JSF programme partners. "That includes everybody," Jon Schreiber, director of the international F-35 programme at the Pentagon, told Reuters on 23 November. "Nobody's completely happy with it but everybody's satisfied and understands," he said.rnTraditionally, Israel installs its own EW systems on US-made fighters and has said that the integration of Elisra's EW systems is a crucial requirement for the F-35 deal.rn"We haven't received any formal notice on that from the US," a senior Israeli defence source told Jane's. "We have a good dialogue with the Pentagon and together we will find solutions that will satisfy everyone."