UK clarifies role in F-35 component transfers to Israel
British, Israeli & U.S. F-35s.Air
By George Allison
- December 1, 2024
The UK Government has addressed recent parliamentary questions concerning the distribution of F-35 aircraft components and their potential transfer to Israel.
Maria Eagle, Minister of State for Defence, responded to two separate queries regarding the movement of F-35 parts, highlighting the UK’s limited control over and involvement in the global logistics of the programme, which is led by the United States.
When asked about the proportion of UK-exported F-35 components ultimately received by the Israeli Government since October 2023, Maria Eagle stated:
“The global distribution of F-35 components is controlled by the US Government-led F-35 programme. The Government does not have visibility of F-35 components distributed by the programme to each F-35 nation and is unable to provide an estimate.”
This highlights the centralised nature of the F-35 programme, where logistics and distribution are managed by the US Department of Defense.
A separate question raised by Clive Lewis MP sought clarity on whether F-35 parts had been sent from RAF Marham to Israel between October 2023 and August 2024. In her response, Eagle confirmed:
“At the request of the US-led F-35 Programme, there were 14 transfers of F-35 components from RAF Marham to Israel between October 2023 and August 2024. The transferred components are the property of the US Department of Defense.”
Eagle also noted that, following the Government’s September announcement on arms exports, there have been no direct transfers of F-35 parts to Israel via RAF Marham since the licensing suspension.
By George Allison
- December 1, 2024
The UK Government has addressed recent parliamentary questions concerning the distribution of F-35 aircraft components and their potential transfer to Israel.
Maria Eagle, Minister of State for Defence, responded to two separate queries regarding the movement of F-35 parts, highlighting the UK’s limited control over and involvement in the global logistics of the programme, which is led by the United States.
When asked about the proportion of UK-exported F-35 components ultimately received by the Israeli Government since October 2023, Maria Eagle stated:
“The global distribution of F-35 components is controlled by the US Government-led F-35 programme. The Government does not have visibility of F-35 components distributed by the programme to each F-35 nation and is unable to provide an estimate.”
This highlights the centralised nature of the F-35 programme, where logistics and distribution are managed by the US Department of Defense.
A separate question raised by Clive Lewis MP sought clarity on whether F-35 parts had been sent from RAF Marham to Israel between October 2023 and August 2024. In her response, Eagle confirmed:
“At the request of the US-led F-35 Programme, there were 14 transfers of F-35 components from RAF Marham to Israel between October 2023 and August 2024. The transferred components are the property of the US Department of Defense.”
Eagle also noted that, following the Government’s September announcement on arms exports, there have been no direct transfers of F-35 parts to Israel via RAF Marham since the licensing suspension.
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