The Joint Strike Fighter
By Christopher Scanlon
"A few weeks ago I-along with academics from a number of other Australian universities-received an email invitation to a briefing session run by the Department of Defence. The purpose of the briefing was to get researchers to think about how their research might contribute to Australia's involvement in the Joint Strike Fighter Program.
"The Joint Strike Fighter Program, or JSF, is a US-led initiative involving nine allied countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, Turkey, Denmark and Norway to develop a new generation strike fighter called the F-35 Lightning II.
"Costing in excess of 250 billion US dollars, the JSF is the world's largest defence project. Australia has committed to acquiring 100 of the aircraft at a cost of around $12-15 billion Australian dollars.
"Israel and Singapore are also involved in the project as 'Security Co-operation Participants', which, according to a press release from Lockheed Martin-the prime contractor behind the F-35-means that they 'are entitled to delivery priorities, certain program information and country-specific technical studies for the F-35' ...
"While I'm not a pacifist and I think it's unrealistic to suppose that we can get by without technologically advanced forms of defence, the involvement of university researchers in this project raises a number of concerns.
"In particular, the F-35 is being developed far beyond what could considered the legitimate defence needs of the country. The JSF website boasts that the new fighter will 'reach new heights of lethality' which it explains is the ability to carry out 'Air-to-ground precision strikes in all weather ... [and] air-to-air combat engagements'.
"It will also be able to carry what are euphemistically called 'smart bombs', Sidewinder missiles, the UK Storm Shadow, and a large array of other weapons. In other words, the F-35 will be able to do much more than intercept aircraft and missiles ...
"Perhaps it's time for us to expand the remit of ethics committees to encompass broader moral questions, such as the involvement in the development of strike fighters."
Perspective (has audio)
"A few weeks ago I-along with academics from a number of other Australian universities-received an email invitation to a briefing session run by the Department of Defence. The purpose of the briefing was to get researchers to think about how their research might contribute to Australia's involvement in the Joint Strike Fighter Program.
"The Joint Strike Fighter Program, or JSF, is a US-led initiative involving nine allied countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, Turkey, Denmark and Norway to develop a new generation strike fighter called the F-35 Lightning II.
"Costing in excess of 250 billion US dollars, the JSF is the world's largest defence project. Australia has committed to acquiring 100 of the aircraft at a cost of around $12-15 billion Australian dollars.
"Israel and Singapore are also involved in the project as 'Security Co-operation Participants', which, according to a press release from Lockheed Martin-the prime contractor behind the F-35-means that they 'are entitled to delivery priorities, certain program information and country-specific technical studies for the F-35' ...
"While I'm not a pacifist and I think it's unrealistic to suppose that we can get by without technologically advanced forms of defence, the involvement of university researchers in this project raises a number of concerns.
"In particular, the F-35 is being developed far beyond what could considered the legitimate defence needs of the country. The JSF website boasts that the new fighter will 'reach new heights of lethality' which it explains is the ability to carry out 'Air-to-ground precision strikes in all weather ... [and] air-to-air combat engagements'.
"It will also be able to carry what are euphemistically called 'smart bombs', Sidewinder missiles, the UK Storm Shadow, and a large array of other weapons. In other words, the F-35 will be able to do much more than intercept aircraft and missiles ...
"Perhaps it's time for us to expand the remit of ethics committees to encompass broader moral questions, such as the involvement in the development of strike fighters."
Perspective (has audio)
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