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MPs urge 'plan B' if US drags feet on JSF technology
Ministers were today urged to consider abandoning the multi-billion pound Joint Strike Fighter project unless the United States agrees within weeks to share sensitive technology.The Government should develop a "plan B" for jets to operate from two new aircraft carriers if a deal is not struck by the end of the year, according to the influential Commons Defence Select Committee. Progress on the £140 billion project - the most expensive single armaments programme in UK military history - has been dogged by wrangles over whether Britain would be given access to the technology powering the high-tech aircraft. Ministers have previously threatened that the UK could pull out of plans to buy up to 150 of the military planes for the RAF and Navy unless America agreed to transfer secrets about its software that Britain argues are needed in order to operate and maintain them independently. Posted by: Steve White 2006-12-09 |
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