U.K., Australia Push JSF Tech Sharing

Britain and Australia are separately threatening to pull out of commitments to buy U.S. Joint Strike fighter aircraft in a row over technology transfer.

The fighter, designated the F-35, employs highly-secret stealth technology and would come in three variants, including one enabling it to replace Britain's Harrier vertical takeoff planes.

Lord Drayson, Britain's minister of defense procurement, told a U.S. Senate committee Tuesday reluctance by prime contractor Lockheed Martin and Congress to allow Britain access to technology secrets used in the aircraft would be a deal breaker since Britain would have to request Lockheed's help in maintaining and repairing the planes.

"We should be absolutely clear about what our bottom line is on this matter," he said after appearing in Washington before the Senate Armed Services Committee. "We will not be able to purchase the aircraft."

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