[BITList] There is more in this than meet's the eye!

[John Feltham]

Begin forwarded message:



Pentagon halts Israeli fighter jet bid	


Written by the Jewish Tribune staff	
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
JERUSALEM (Arutz-7) – A scandal has arisen out of the United States  
military establishment after Pentagon pressure on Israel Aerospace  
Industries (IAI) to withdraw from a massive aircraft tender for the  
Indian Air Force leaves competing American aerospace companies in  
prime position to win it.
On the table: a $12-billion Indian Ministry of Defence tender for 126  
multi-role combat aircraft (MRCA) for the Indian Air Force.

In a bid to win the tender, IAI was offered a partnership with  
Sweden’s Saab AB to jointly develop an advanced model of the JAS-39  
Gripen jet fighter. Israel was to build the electronic systems for the  
craft, including communications, electronic warfare and radar systems.

The Pentagon contacted Israel’s Ministry of Defence, and ordered them  
to force IAI out of contention, citing concerns that Israel would  
integrate American technology into the fighter jets.

However, two of the remaining four bidders are American companies,  
leaving Israeli officials speculating that the actual reason for the  
demand was America’s interest in winning the bid without having to  
compete by lowering prices, according to Israeli officials quoted in  
Israeli media.

Lockheed Martin’s F-16 and Boeing’s F-18 Hornet are still in the  
running, as well as Russia’s MiG-35 and the UK’s BAE Eurofighter.

The United States has a history of intervening to thwart Israeli  
military contracts to America’s benefit. Last summer, for example,  
Israel’s defence establishment backed down from a $500 million Turkish  
tank tender in order not to compete with the Americans.
Last Updated ( Tuesday, 28 July 2009 )

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And the US wonders why they are hated around the world.

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