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JSF and Denmark, Israel, Italy, and Japan

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Global Defense Procurement and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

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Abstract

Potential and actual interest in purchasing and deploying the JSF has not been confined to the United States and its Anglosphere allies. This interest also encompasses numerous other US allies including Denmark, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Turkey. Each of these countries has experienced successes and controversies in their JSF decision-making while also seeking to benefit its defense industrial bases by participating in this program. Determining to participate in the JSF is also influenced by the presence of competitor jet fighters produced by Dassault Aviation Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Saab-Gripen whose capabilities and international customers are also reviewed.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    “Rafale Multirole Combat Fighter, France,” Air Force Technology (2015): 1–2; http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/rafale/; accessed April 10, 2017.

  2. 2.

    See Ibid., 3; Dassault Aviation, “Signing Ceremony of the Sales Contract for Rafale to Egypt, 2015/02/16 (Paris: Dassault Aviation, 2015): 1; http://www.dassault-aviation.tv/signing-ceremony-of-the-sales-contract-for-rafale-to-egypt-1150-en.html; accessed April 10, 2017; Patrick Keller, Challenges for European Defense Budgets after the Economic Crisis (Washington, DC: American Enterprise Institute, 2011); https://www.defencetalk.com/challenges-for-european-defense-budgets-after-the-economic-crisis-35589/; accessed June 8, 2018; and Dorothée Foucheaux, French Hard Power: Living on the Strategic Edge (Washington, DC: American Enterprise Institute, 2014); http://www.aei.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/-french-hard-power-living-on-the-strategic-edge_162239575985.pdf; accessed April 10, 2017.

  3. 3.

    Dassault Aviation, Rafale: The Omnirole Fighter (Paris: Dassault Aviation, 2015): 9, 12, 16, 18–19; http://www.dassault-aviation.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/2/files/2015/02/4-Defense-2015.zip; accessed April 11, 2017.

  4. 4.

    See Eurofighter Typhoon, About Us (Munich: Eurofighter, 2015): 1; http://www.eurofighter.com/about-us; accessed April 11, 2017; “Transforming Typhoon,” Aerospace America, 52 (1) (January 2014): 4–5.

  5. 5.

    See About Us, 4–5; and Ian Davis and Emma Mayhew, What Happens When a White Elephant Meets a Paper Tiger?: The Prospective Sale of Eurofighter Typhoon Aircraft to Saudi Arabia and the EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports (London: British American Security Information Council, 2005); https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/17188/BASIC%20PAPERS.pdf; accessed June 11, 2018; provides stringent criticism of this British decision.

  6. 6.

    See George Allison, “Typhoon Uses Cannon in Combat,” UK Defence Journal (June 6, 2016): 1–2; https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/typhoon-uses-cannon-combat/; accessed January 4, 2018; and “What Next for Typhoon,” Combat Aircraft (November 30, 2017): 1; http://www.combataircraft.net/2017/11/30/what-next-for-typhoon/; accessed January 4, 2018.

  7. 7.

    See Eurofighter Typhoon, Technical Guide (Munich, Eurofighter, 2013): 50; www.eurofighter.com/downloads/TecGuide.pdf; accessed April 11, 2017; and Ibid., Customers, 2017; 1; https://www.eurofighter.com/customers; accessed April 11, 2017.

  8. 8.

    Technical Guide, 10.

  9. 9.

    See Saab Group, Gripen NG: Performance, Facts, and Figures (Stockholm: Saab Group, 2015): 3; http://saab.com/globalassets/commercial/air/gripen-fighter-system/gripen-ng/technical-brochure-gripen-ng-english-ver.2-jan-2015_low.pdf; accessed April 11, 2017; and Jens Ringsmose, “Investing in Fighters and Alliances: Norway, Denmark, and the Bumpy Road to the Joint Strike Fighter,” International Journal, 68 (1) (Winter 2012–2013): 93–110, https://doi.org/10.1177/002070201306800107.

  10. 10.

    “Gripen Multirole Fighter Aircraft, Sweden,” Air Force Technology (2015): 1; http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/gripen/; accessed April 11, 2017.

  11. 11.

    Ibid., 2.

  12. 12.

    Saab Group, 14.

  13. 13.

    Ibid., “Gripen Users” (Stockholm: Saab Group, 2014): 2; http://saab.com/air/gripen-fighter-system/gripen/gripen/users-gripen/; accessed April 11, 2017.

  14. 14.

    See Sweden, Ministry of Defence., “Budget Reinforcement to the Swedish Armed Forces’ Regimental- and Air Surveillance Capabilities” (Stockholm: Ministry of Defence, 2014): 1–2; http://www.government.se/articles/2014/10/budget-reinforcement-to-the-swedish-armed-forces-regimental%2D%2Dand-air-surveillance-capabilities/; accessed March 11, 2017; Ibid., “Speech by Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist at the Unveiling of the First Gripen E Test Aircraft” (Stockholm: Ministry of Defence, 2016): 1–3; http://www.government.se/speeches/2016/05/speech-by-defence-minister-peter-hultqvist-at-the-unveiling-of-the-first-gripen-e-test-aircraft/; accessed April 11, 2017; and Ibid., “Peter Hultqvist Visits the Hungarian Defence Minister” (Stockholm: Ministry of Defence, 2017): 1; http://www.government.se/articles/2017/09/peter-hultqvist-visits-the-hungarian-defence-minister/; accessed January 4, 2018.

  15. 15.

    Gripen NG: Performance, Facts, and Figures, 4, 8. See http://www.metric-conversions.org/; accessed March 12, 2017 for metric conversions.

  16. 16.

    Ringsmose, 96.

  17. 17.

    Ibid., 96–97.

  18. 18.

    See Mikkel Vedby Rasmussen & Hendrik Ø Breitenbauch, Denmark’s Need for Fighter Aircraft: A Strategic Analysis of the Future Need for Danish Fighter Aircraft (Copenhagen: University of Copenhagen Centre for Military Studies, 2007); http://cms.polsci.ku.dk/english/pdf/need_for_fighter_aircraft.pdf; accessed April 12, 2017; and Denmark, Rigsrevisionen, Report to the Public Accounts Committee on the Basis for Possible Acquisition of Combat Aircraft (Copenhagen: Rigsrevisionen, 2009): 24, 28, 38; http://uk.rigsrevisionen.dk/media/1887782/9-2008.pdf; accessed April 12, 2017.

  19. 19.

    Ringsmose, 97–98.

  20. 20.

    See Danish Defence, Facts and Figures: The Danish Armed Forces (Copenhagen: Danish Defence, 2011): 36; http://www2.forsvaret.dk/eng/About/Facts/Documents/Facts_And_Figures_UK.pdf; accessed April 12 2017; Bill Sweetman, “JSF’s Year Ahead,” Aviation Week and Space Technology, 177 (1) (January 15, 2015): 20; and Denmark, Ministry of Defence, Danish Defence Agreement 2013–2017 (Copenhagen: Ministry of Defence, 2012): 11; http://www.fmn.dk/eng/allabout/Documents/TheDanishDefenceAgrement2013-2017english-version.pdf; accessed April 12, 2017.

  21. 21.

    Denmark, Ministry of Defence, Executive Summary: Type Selection of Denmark’s New Fighter Aircraft: Evaluations of Eurofighter, Joint Strike Fighter and Super Hornet (Copenhagen: Ministry of Defence, 2016): 4–9; http://www.fmn.dk/temaer/kampfly/Documents/type-selection-denmarks-new-fighter-aircrafts-english-summary5.pdf; accessed April 12, 2017.

  22. 22.

    See Lockheed Martin, “Denmark: Future Air Power” (Fort Worth: Lockheed Martin, 2015): 3–4; https://www.f35.com/global/participation/denmark; April 12, 2017; and William D. Hartung, Promising the Sky: Pork Barrel Politics and the F-35 Combat Aircraft (Washington, DC: Center for International Policy, 2014): 17; http://www.ciponline.org/images/uploads/publications/Hartung_IPR_0114_F-35_Promising_the_Sky_Updated.pdf; accessed April 12, 2017.

  23. 23.

    See Gerard O’Dwyer and Aaron Mehta, “Danish Firms Want Bigger Slice of JSF Pie,” Defense News (October 6, 2012): 1–4; http://www.combataircraft.com/en/News/2012/10/07/Danish-Firms-Want-Bigger-Slice-of-JSF-Pie/; accessed April 12, 2017; and “Denmark: Future Air Power.”

  24. 24.

    Andrew McIntosh, “Boeing’s Dogfight with Denmark over $3 Billion Fighter Jet Contract Lands in Court,” Puget Sound Business Journal (March 2, 2017): 1–3; http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2017/03/02/boeings-denmark-lockheed-martin-fighter-jet.html; accessed April 12, 2017.

  25. 25.

    “IAI Seeks Role on JSF,” Aviation Week and Space Technology, 155 (25) (December 17, 2001): S12.

  26. 26.

    David A. Fulghum and Robert Wall, “Israel Nears Decision on F-35 Participation,” Aviation Week and Space Technology, 156 (21) (May 27, 2002): 48–49.

  27. 27.

    See David A. Fulghum, Robert Wall, and Barry Douglas, “Never Ending War,” Aviation Week and Space Technology, 167 (24) (December 17, 2007): 48–50; and Jeremy M. Sharp, U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel (Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service, 2008): 2; http://emetnews.org/documents/us-foreign-aid-to-israel-2008.pdf; accessed April 15, 2017.

  28. 28.

    “Adir Who?: Israel’s F-35i Stealth Fighters,” Defense Industry Daily (November 18, 2014): 2.

  29. 29.

    Israel, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Cabinet Communique” (Jerusalem: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, September 19, 2010): 1; http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/PressRoom/2010/Pages/Cabinet-communique-19-Sep-2010.aspx; accessed April 15, 2017.

  30. 30.

    See Yuval Azulai, “Knesset Finance C’ttee Approves F-35 Deal,” Globes: Israel’s Business Arena (September 20, 2010): 1; http://web.archive.org/web/20141031070436/http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-1000589810; accessed April 15, 2017; and Jeremy M. Sharp, U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel (Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service, 2010): 7; http://emetnews.org/documents/US-Foreign-Aid-to-Israel.pdf; accessed April 15, 2017.

  31. 31.

    Alon Ben-David, Amy Butler, and Robert Wall, “Wire Transfer: U.S., Israel Strike F-35 Technology Deal,” Aviation Week and Space Technology, 173 (24) (July 4, 2011): 22.

  32. 32.

    U.S. Department of Defense, “Hagel, Yaalon Finalize New Israeli Military Capabilities” (Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Defense, April 22, 2013): 1; http://archive.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=119838; accessed April 15, 2017.

  33. 33.

    Shani Poms, “Cornerstone Laying for F-35 Squadron Release Date” (Jerusalem: Israel Air Force, November 11, 2014): 1–2; http://www.iaf.org.il/4415-43545-en/IAF.aspx; accessed April 15, 2017.

  34. 34.

    See “Contracts and Key Events 2011–2014,” Defense Industry Daily (November 18, 2014): 4; and Avi Lewis, “Cabinet Authorizes Purchase of 14 F-35 Fighter Jets,” Times of Israel (December 1, 2014): 1; http://www.timesofisrael.com/cabinet-authorizes-purchase-of-14-f-35-fighter-jets/; accessed April 15, 2017.

  35. 35.

    Jeremy Sharp, U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel (Washington, DC: Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service, 2018): 9–10; https://fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL33222.pdf; accessed June 11, 2018.

  36. 36.

    See Nadav Burger, “F-35 Wings Production Line Inaugurated” (Jerusalem: Israel Air Force, June 11, 2014): 1–2; http://www.iaf.org.il/4414-43509-en/IAF.aspx; accessed April 15, 2017; and “Israel Orders 14 More F-35 Stealth Warplanes,” Globus: Israel’s Business Arena (February 22, 2015): 1; http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-orders-14-more-f-35-stealth-warplanes-1001012189; accessed April 15, 2017.

  37. 37.

    See Yaakov Lapin, “The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft: What it Brings to the IAF” (Jerusalem: Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, 2017): 1; https://besacenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/629-F35-Aircraft-Lappin-final-2.pdf; accessed January 4, 2018; and “Israel’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighters Officially Ready for Action,” Sputnik News (December 6, 2017): 1; https://sputniknews.com/military/201712061059767794-israel-f-35-ready-for-action/; accessed January 4, 2018.

  38. 38.

    Anna Ahronheim, “Israeli Air Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Amikam Norkin Speaks About Israel’s Use of the F-35 (IDF Spokesperson’s Unit) Adir Stealth Fighter Jet,” The Jerusalem Post (May 22, 2018): 1–2; https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/IAF-commander-Israel-first-to-use-F-35-jet-in-combat-558030; accessed May 23, 2018.

  39. 39.

    See Alessandro Marone, “Italy and the F-35: Rationales and Cost,” International Journal, 68 (1) (Winter 2012–13): 31–32; https://doi.org/10.1177/002070201306800104; U.S. Department of State, Treaties and Other International Acts Series 02-717.1, Defense: Joint Strike Fighter Program: Agreement Between the United States and Italy Supplementing the Memorandum of Understanding of January 17, 2001 (Washington, DC: Department of State, 2012); http://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo39829; accessed April 16, 2017; and Michele Nones, Giovanni Gasparini, and Alessandro Marrone, Europe and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program (Rome: Istituto Affari Internazionali, 2009): 74; http://www.iai.it/sites/default/files/quaderni_e_16.pdf; accessed April 16, 2017.

  40. 40.

    See Marone, 41–48; and Guy Dinmore, “Italy to Slash F-35 Order to 90 Aircraft,” Financial Times (February 16, 2012): 15.

  41. 41.

    “Italian Lawmakers Back Cuts to JSF Purchase,” JSFNeuws.nl (March 19, 2014): 1; http://www.jsfnieuws.nl/?p=1095; accessed April 16, 2017.

  42. 42.

    See Lockheed-Martin, “First-Ever Italian F-35A Rolls Out of Cameri, Italy, Production Facility” (Fort Worth: Lockheed-Martin, March 8, 2015): 1–2; https://www.f35.com/news/detail/first-ever-italian-f-35a-rolls-out-of-cameri-italy-production-facility; accessed April 16, 2017; and Vincenzo Camparini, Tomasso de Zan, Alessandro Morone, et al., The Role of Italian Fighter Aircraft in Crisis Management Operations: Trends and Needs (Rome: Istituto Affari Internationali, 2014): 87–128; http://www.iai.it/sites/default/files/iairp_16.pdf; accessed April 16, 2017.

  43. 43.

    See Lockheed Martin, “Amendola Air Base: Italy’s First Operational F-35 Base” (Fort Worth: Lockheed Martin, 2017): 1; https://www.f35.com/about/who-is-flying/amendola; accessed April 16, 2017; and Italy, Ministry of Defense, Multiyear Defense Programmatic Document for 2016–2018 (Rome: Ministry of Defense, 2016): 25–28; http://www.difesa.it/Content/Documents/DPP/DPP_2016_2018.pdf#search=joint%20strike%20fighter; accessed April 16, 2017.

  44. 44.

    See Dave Majumdar, “This Country Just Assembled a Lockheed Martin F-35B Joint Strike Fighter (And It’s a Big Deal),” The National Interest (May 5, 2017): 1–3; http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/county-just-assembled-lockheed-martin-f-35b-joint-strike-20542; accessed January 4, 2018; and “Italian Work Shortfall on F-35 Program Worsens,” Defense-Aerospace.com (May 9, 2017): 2–3; http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/feature/5/183491/italian-work-on-f_35-program-falls-further.html; accessed December 4, 2017.

  45. 45.

    PriceWaterhouseCooper, Italian F-35 Lightning II Program Economic Impact Assessment (Rome: PriceWaterhouseCooper, 2014): 14–17; https://a855196877272cb14560-2a4fa819a63ddcc0c289f9457bc3ebab.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/14220/pwc_-_economic_impact_study_of_italian_f-35_program.pdf; accessed April 16, 2017.

  46. 46.

    See Francesco Tosato, The F-35 Program From the Italian Perspective (Rome: Centro Studi Internazionali, 2014): 31; http://www.sldinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Program_F-35_Italian_perspective1.pdf; accessed April 16, 2017; Italy, Ministry of Defense, The General Directorate of Armaments (Rome: Ministry of Defense, 2009): 96–99; http://www.difesa.it/SGD-DNA/InfoCom/Pubblicazioni/DPI/11DPI2009-sgd.pdf; accessed April 16, 2017; and Hartung, Promising the Sky: Pork Barrel Politics and the F-35 Combat Aircraft, 10–18.

  47. 47.

    See Japan, Ministry of Defense, Chinese Activities Surrounding Japan’s Airspace (Tokyo: Ministry of Defense, 2013): 1–8; http://www.mod.go.jp/e/d_act/ryouku/index.html; accessed April 17, 2017; “Japan Jet Scrambles Near Cold War Record,” BBC News (April 16, 2015): 1; http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-32330096; accessed April 17, 2017; Japan, Ministry of Defense, Statistics on Scrambles During the First Quarter of FY2016 (Tokyo: Ministry of Defense, 2016): 1–5; http://www.mod.go.jp/js/Press/press2016/press_pdf/p20160705_02.pdf; accessed April 17, 2017; and Ibid., Statistics on Scrambles Through Fiscal Year 2016 (Tokyo: Ministry of Defense, 2017): 1–15; http://www.mod.go.jp/js/Press/press2017/press_pdf/p20170413_02.pdf; accessed January 4, 2018.

  48. 48.

    See Astushi Tago and Srdjan Vucetic, “The ‘Only Choice’: Canadian and Japanese F-35 Decisions Compared,” International Journal, 68 (4) (Winter 2012–13): 139; https://doi.org/10.1177/002070201306800109; Japan, Ministry of Defense, “Press Conference by the Defense Minister” (Tokyo: Ministry of Defense, December 20, 2011): 1–3; http://www.mod.go.jp/e/press/conference/2011/12/20.html; accessed April 17, 2017; and Ibid., Defense of Japan 2012 (Tokyo: Ministry of Defense, 2012): 151–157; http://www.mod.go.jp/e/publ/w_paper/e-book/2012/index.html; accessed April 17, 2017.

  49. 49.

    See Ibid., 139–140, 147; Douglas Barrie and Robert Wall, “Starters Orders,” Aviation Week and Space Technology, 171 (21) (December 7, 2009): 37; Bradley Perrett and Francis Leithen, “Skill-Preserver,” Aviation Week and Space Technology, 173 (15) (April 25, 2011): 35.

  50. 50.

    Bradley Perrett, Amy Butler, Guy Norris, and Bill Sweetman, “Not Just Japan,” Aviation Week and Space Technology, 173 (45) (December 19, 2011): 29.

  51. 51.

    Perrett and Butler, “Catalyst for Change,” Aviation Week and Space Technology, 174 (1) (January 2, 2012): 26.

  52. 52.

    Bill Sweetman, “Many on Many,” Aviation Week and Space Technology, 176 (4) (February 3, 2014): 66–68.

  53. 53.

    Perrett, “TRDI’s Baby,” Aviation Week and Space Technology, 176 (25) (July 21, 2014): 32.

  54. 54.

    Japan, Ministry of Defense, Defense Programs and Budget of Japan: Overview of FY 2015 Budget (Tokyo: Ministry of Defense, 2015): 5; http://www.mod.go.jp/e/d_budget/pdf/270414.pdf; accessed April 17, 2017.

  55. 55.

    U.S. Air Force, Misawa Air Base, “F-35 Lightning II Demonstration Comes to Misawa” (Misawa AFB, Japan: September 29, 2014): 1; http://www.misawa.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/773406/f-35-lightning-ii-demonstration-comes-to-misawa/; accessed April 17, 2017.

  56. 56.

    See Japan, Ministry of Defense, “Rollout Ceremony for the ASDF’s First F-35A” (Tokyo: Ministry of Defense, 2016): 1; http://www.mod.go.jp/e/jdf/no82/specialfeature.html; accessed April 17, 2017; Ibid., Defense of Japan 2016 (Tokyo: Ministry of Defence, 2016): 4–6, 50–56, 76–78, 189; http://www.mod.go.jp/e/publ/w_paper/2016.html; accessed April 17, 2017; IISS Military Balance (London: International Institute for Strategic Studies, 2017): 555; and Tim Kelly and Nobuhiro Kubo, “Japan Lawmakers Want First Strike Options as North Korea’s Missile Threat Grows,” Reuters (March 8, 2017): 1–3; http://www.businessinsider.com/r-as-north-korea-missile-threat-grows-japan-lawmakers-argue-for-first-strike-options-2017-3; accessed April 17, 2017.

  57. 57.

    Dave Majumdar, “Japan Just Built Its Very First F-35 Joint Strike Fighter,” The National Interest (June 5, 2017): 1–3; http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/japan-just-built-its-very-first-f-35-joint-strike-fighter-21018; accessed January 4, 2018; and Lockheed Martin, “JASDF’s Next Generation Fighter” (Fort Worth: Lockheed Martin, 2017): 1; https://www.f35.com/global/participation/japan; accessed April 17, 2017.

  58. 58.

    See “Japan’s Next F-X Fighters: F-35 Wins Round One,” Defense Industry Daily (December 4, 2017): 4; http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/f22-raptors-to-japan-01909/; accessed January 4, 2018; and Amy Butler, “Fight and Train,” Aviation Week and Space Technology, 175 (45) (December 30, 2013): 61.

  59. 59.

    See Clay Dillow, “Japan Gets Serious About Building its Own Stealth Fighter,” Fortune (March 24, 2016): 1–2; http://fortune.com/2016/03/24/japan-building-stealth-fighter/; accessed January 5, 2018; Gareth Jennings, “Japan Rolls Out First Domestically Built F-35,” Jane’s Defence Weekly (June 5, 2017); 1–2; and Lockheed Martin, “JASDF’s Next Generation Fighter” (Fort Worth: Lockheed Martin, 2017): 1; https://www.f35.com/global/participation/japan; accessed April 17, 2017.

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    Bert Chapman

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Chapman, B. (2019). JSF and Denmark, Israel, Italy, and Japan. In: Global Defense Procurement and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01367-7_8

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