"hobo" wrote in message
...
In article ,
John Cook wrote:


With JSF, the US forces will have a block approach:
* Block 1: basic capability with JDAM and AIM-120
* Block 2: more refined mission software, more weapons certified
* Block 3: 100 per cent of mission software, all the hardware
certified

I can understand not wanting to sell TURKEY or even Israel top of the
line equipment, but if we can't trust Oz and the UK then we should just
say screw it and go home.

It is not so much a matter of not trusting/allowing them access to
technology as it is a matter of it being a spiral development effort. The
first US aircraft will be Block 1, followed by Block 2, then ultimately
Block 3; spiral development gets the aircraft into service earlier, albeit
without it having its ultimate capabilities realized. As more capabilities
are realized, they are incorporated into the production blocks. If it were a
*trust* issue, why is the *US military* also going to have Block 1 and 2
aircraft serving in our own forces?

Brooks