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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| U.S. won't sell refueling jets to Israel, fearing strike on Iran |
| 2008-08-22 |
| It emerged on Wednesday that the United States has refused to sell Jerusalem new refueling planes, fearing such a transaction could be interpreted as support for an Israeli attack on Iran. Haaretz reported last week that the U.S. had rejected a request for military equipment that would improve Israel's ability to attack Iran's nuclear facilities. Jerusalem denied that report. But new information released Wednesday revealed that the nature of the equipment refused would strengthen the Israel Air Force in one of its weakest areas. The IAF has in its possession only seven refueling planes, many of which are more than 40 years old. Israel had requested new Boeing 767 planes, necessary for refueling during long-distance operations. The Americans rejected the request roughly three weeks ago during a visit to Washington by Defense Minister Ehud Barak. The refusal stems from the fear Israel plans to deliver a blow to Iran's nuclear program before the end of the Bush Administration. Contrary to Iran's claims that the program is for peaceful purposes, much of the West suspects Tehran is attempting to develop nuclear weapons. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #27 sell them some of our early 60s era UFOs! |
| Posted by: 3dc 2008-08-22 23:19 |
| #26 ...And of course, NO one has pointed out that even if we HAD authorized the purchase (a thoroughly pointless question in the first place - almost new 767 freighters can be found for far less money; and the Israelis certainly would be able to buy them quite anonymously on the world aviation market) it would be months - if not a year or more before the K767s were mission capable, much less ready to fly a demanding mission like a raid on Iran. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2008-08-22 21:59 |
| #25 I think it's more of a CYA thing. "No, we have to let Iran get nukes, the US wouldn't sell us the refuelling aircraft last week." As if that's the sort of thing you'd do the month before the attack. |
| Posted by: Abdominal Snowman 2008-08-22 18:06 |
| #24 .5MT, I guess it's not called a cockpit anymore. Must be the Box Office. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2008-08-22 17:24 |
| #23 Sheesh, people. The Boeing 707s currently in the IDF inventory can go a long way toward the requirement and it should not be impossible to get some of the grounded 707s (there are at least 5) going again for a short-term operation. As Steve White suggests, it is possible to convert commercially acquired aircraft and Israel has a long, long history of doing so. This started with ex-commercial Boeing 377s acquired in the late 50s and fitted with probe and drogue refueling equipment in the early 60s. Later, the US provided some of the KC-97 military versions, which had flying boom equipment for refueling IDF F-4s. The existing 707 tanker conversions have flying boom equipment as well and the Israelis have a lot of experience with it. This whole story has to be some kind of disinformation or diversion, anyway, since the new planes could not be delivered for a couple of years at the very least even if they were approved. |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2008-08-22 17:13 |
| #22 This may be just a disinformation smoke screen, but if State is involved, it could be true. State does weird and perverted reasoning, even now as we speak. That is all I can say now. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2008-08-22 16:02 |
| #21 USN, I know Euros have a similar deal to ITAR. I believe it is can EMAR or some derivative of that. We have to deal with via our European operations. |
| Posted by: bombay 2008-08-22 15:25 |
| #20 Iran is developing "fantasy fueling" for their jets, so they can fly to the U.S. and bomb us any time of the day or night. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-08-22 15:03 |
| #19 No. As far as I know, the F-35 will be the only fighter that has the plumbing to be fitted for either boom or drogue refueling. |
| Posted by: ed 2008-08-22 13:38 |
| #18 I thought F-15's and 16's sold to foreign buyers were capable of using probe/drogue refueling? |
| Posted by: Abdominal Snowman 2008-08-22 13:07 |
| #17 F-15s and F-16s use the US Air Force style refueling booms. The only manufacturers are the US and EADS and I believe EADS's boom is only in the demo phase. |
| Posted by: ed 2008-08-22 11:59 |
| #16 737, has range, plentiful parts. take a cargo config, put fuel bladders and pumps in the duselage, pipes and drogue style refuel at the wingtips and maybe the tail (instead of boom). You could probably rig that up quickly. Paint it in "contract carrier" colors... |
| Posted by: OldSpook 2008-08-22 11:46 |
| #15 So they'll build their own. |
| Posted by: mojo 2008-08-22 11:38 |
| #14 France, Russia, China, any of these countries will sell you anything you want without any questions. Try them. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-08-22 11:37 |
| #13 There is someone else out there who really doesn't want the Iranians with 'the bomb'. Ah, the intrigues of necessity. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2008-08-22 09:50 |
| #12 #3 interesting points so - either the obstacles others have raised are real, and the admin is really trying to stop an attack NOW (which doesnt mean attack NEVER, but its sticking with its strategy of working on sanctions, while deferring the question of what to do if that dont work to the next admin, for a variety of reasons) OR - theres an alternative way to do this, and this is a smokescreen, as some are hinting #11 - I'd be very surprised if that were the case. Really. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2008-08-22 09:14 |
| #11 Getting such a sale through this Congress would be impossible. |
| Posted by: lotp 2008-08-22 05:46 |
| #10 I'd get them a "refuel" at a mile high. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2008-08-22 04:45 |
| #9 Got new crews tho: Hi Mac! |
| Posted by: .5MT 2008-08-22 03:40 |
| #8 Hell the US doesn't have any "new" refueling jets. |
| Posted by: .5MT 2008-08-22 03:35 |
| #7 U.S. won't sell refueling jets to Israel, fearing strike on Iran Awww bull-pucky Fantasy Rant 707 orbiting until the fuel drivers are pooped out and then replaced.. 707 orbiting low flight 1) KURDS: Possible overflight and or Landing permission @ Air Force and/or secure non public bases. 2) Kuwaitis: Possible overflight and or Landing permission @ Air Force and/or secure non public bases. 3)Iraq: American Base out in the Desert of Iraq, possible emergency bases. 4) The Sunnis hate Iran so much they may allow Israelis to use a base in the An-Bar Desert. 5) Baluchistan may cut a orbiting deal for the Israelis ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [the United States Air Force has reduced its squadron size from 24 to 18 aircraft... fancy talk aside, to SAVE MONEY.] <|>:) |
| Posted by: Red Dawg 2008-08-22 02:10 |
| #6 Actually, Israel already has the one aircraft it needs to build a tanker fleet : C-130s - you have to fly slower, lower, and put up with more turbulence; but it makes a damn good tanker. |
| Posted by: Shieldwolf 2008-08-22 01:33 |
| #5 767s? Why don't they just use Hornets, like everyone else? Snarking aside, this does sound curious. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2008-08-22 01:20 |
| #4 even used 767 and 767 airliners would be subject to EAR scrutiny; and dual use would be considered. Israel would probably find it easier to obtain used Airbus jets and design their own IFR mod kits. I do not know if France / Spain / UK has anything on the books similiar to EAR / ITAR. Any of our European burgers have the answer? |
| Posted by: USN,Ret. 2008-08-22 01:07 |
| #3 I don't get it. You can buy used 757s and 767s on the used market. You can get parts for those planes easily enough if they don't have to be certified Boeing. You can modify them to serve as tankers if you have an indigenous aircraft industry, which the Israelis certainly have. The Israelis are resourceful enough. Something here doesn't add up. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2008-08-22 00:26 |
| #2 See WAFF.com > STRATEGYPAGE - SHAPING UP THE SUPERSCUDS OF SYRIA. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-08-22 00:17 |
| #1 Plausible deniability? |
| Posted by: Gabby Cussworth 2008-08-22 00:11 |