The UK is threatening to pull out of the $200bn Joint Strike Fighter programme if the US continues to refuse to share technology. In particular, what the British Government wants is access to the software codes that would allow it to maintain and upgrade the aircraft without having to depend on US manufacturers. Some executives believe that if a compromise is not found, Britain may decide to pull out, dealing a body blow to the programme.

This was the message being delivered in the past few days by BAE's chief executive, Mike Turner, while at the Paris airshow. "Technology transfer is a very, very big issue," Turner says. "Without it, there will be a real problem on this programme and others."But the UK is still concerned about getting access to much of the sophisticated technology."Although you may be a partner, you could end up as a 'metal bashing' partner if you do not have proper access to the high-value electronics and computing parts of the aircraft" says Gareth Evans of AT Kearney, the consultancy. According to Turner, there are wider ramifications. Technology transfer is vital if Britain wants to maintain a strong defence industrial base, he argues."The last thing you want to do is expose yourself to having to buy expensive support from America throughout the life. And you lose sovereignty."So it's not only wealth creation that you give up in your own country, but you lose sovereignty" Turner says.

Originally posted by waynos
Don't forget the UK (very foolishly)sacrificed its place as the world leader in V/STOL technology to join the JSF...

UK engineers have achieved the world's first automatic landing of a short take-off vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft on a ship.

A team from Qinetiq was able to bring the experimental aircraft, the VAAC (Vectoredthrust Aircraft Advanced Control) Harrier to land on HMS Invincible automatically.

Funded by the US Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme and the UK MoD Joint Combat Aircraft Integrated Project Team (JCA IP), the development is seen as a key milestone in a risk reduction programme for the JSF STOVL aircraft. The ability to land an aircraft automatically on a ship will enable JSF pilots to conduct missions during the day or night and in poor weather conditions.

Qinetiq also claimed that the Autoland technology developed for JSF will significantly lessen the workload of pilots at the end of the mission, and reduce the difficulty of landing a plane on the moving platform of a ship.

The technology could also be used to enable unmanned aerial vehicles to be operated from ships.

The VAAC Harrier was designed by Qinetiq's predecessor DERA, with funding from the US-UK JSF Office. It uses advanced fly-by-wire technology to hand over many of the Harrier's flight characteristics to computers, making the aircraft simpler to handle and enabling engineers to fine-tune it quickly for improved handling based on pilot feedback.

It is anticipated that the procurement cost of the JCA will be £10bn, depending on the number of aircraft required.

as posted by waynos
As regards the laser, I understand that this is quite a long way in the future (look at how the AL-1 has to be based on the 747!) and is more a long term design objective rather than an actual piece of kit, by which I mean the F-35 is expected to be around for such a long time it is designed to be able to accept a laser when one is actually ready (whenever that may be) It will certainly not be a part of the armoury of the F-35 by 2014, maybe even by 2025.

The 100-kilowatt infrared laser, which is being developed for the Lockheed-Martin F35 Joint Strike Fighter by contending companies TRW (Northrop-Grumman) and Raytheon, is far more powerful than any laser ever used in war.
The solid state laser is designed to attack targets such as incoming air to air and ground to air missiles, other fighter aircraft, ground vehicles and anti-aircraft batteries.
Lockheed, estimates the laser weapon will be ready to test by around 2008 and could go into service by 2010-2015, (other industry estimates have a more aggressive timetable).

Magical Anti-Missile Chaff/Flare Dispenser :
In many ways this system is similar to technological versions of the Chaff/Flare system. The anti-missile system works by combining three spells. The three spells are Fire Bolt, Apparition, and Telekinesis. The physical effects of the system are identical to the Triax Anti-Missile chaff but instead of being reloaded, it is recharged by spells.

Effect: 01-50 Enemy missile or missile volley detonates in chaff cloud - Missiles are all destroyed

51-75 Enemy missile or missile volley loses track of real target and veers away in wrong direction (May lock onto another target)

76-00 No effect, missile is still on target

Also note that the chaff cloud will also blind flying monsters that fly through cloud. They will suffer the following penalties: reduce melee attacks/actions, combat bonuses, and speed by half. Duration: 1D4 melee rounds.

Payload: 10 Uses before being recharged. The dispenser is recharged by the spells Apparition (20 P.P.E.), Fire Bolt (7 P.P.E.), and Telekinesis (8 P.P.E.).


Techno-Wizard Modifications: The Joint Strike Fighter has the following Techno-Wizard Modifications built into the Aircraft. These require P.P.E. or I.S.P. from the pilot.
Special Features:
Impervious to Energy (6th level) 20 PPE or 40 ISP
Invisibility-Superior (6th Level) 20 PPE or 40 ISP