US-UK tech transfer issue being worked out: Rice

Blackburn (England), Mar 31: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters today that differences with Britain over the sensitive issue of defence technology transfer were being worked out.

''We are working on any problems about technology sharing. It's a complicated matter, everyone wants to protect technology, but these issues are being worked out as they should, among friends,'' Rice told reporters on a visit to a UK plant doing work on the US-led Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) combat jet, a programme which has stirred UK concerns about technology transfer.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw added: ''It is an issue.

It's being discussed as the Secretary says, between the governments and the companies concerned.'' The head of British military procurement told the US Congress this month that the UK would be unable to follow through with plans to buy Lockheed Martin Corp.'s next-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter unless the United States could ensure that Britain would be able to do its own upgrades, including software, once the jets enter service.

Australia and Italy have voiced similar concerns while Norway has expressed concern that its defence industry will not receive sufficient workshare from the JSF programme.

Adding to British concerns was a US decision to scrap a Blackburn (England), Mar 31: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters today that differences with Britain over the sensitive issue of defence technology transfer were being worked out.

''We are working on any problems about technology sharing. It's a complicated matter, everyone wants to protect technology, but these issues are being worked out as they should, among friends,'' Rice told reporters on a visit to a UK plant doing work on the US-led Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) combat jet, a programme which has stirred UK concerns about technology transfer.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw added: ''It is an issue.

It's being discussed as the Secretary says, between the governments and the companies concerned.'' The head of British military procurement told the US Congress this month that the UK would be unable to follow through with plans to buy Lockheed Martin Corp.'s next-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter unless the United States could ensure that Britain would be able to do its own upgrades, including software, once the jets enter service.

Australia and Italy have voiced similar concerns while Norway has expressed concern that its defence industry will not receive sufficient workshare from the JSF programme.

Adding to British concerns was a US decision to scrap a $2.4 billion second engine development contract for the F-35 last month, dealing a blow to the UK's Rolls-Royce which was playing a key role on the programme.

The JSF is a family of radar-evading, supersonic, multi-role warplanes being co-financed by seven countries along with the United States and Britain Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway.

Foreign partners, led by Britain which has committed $2 billion, together account for about 10 per cent of the development funding.

It's the costliest international warplane project in history, expected to cost more than $250 billion for the 2,593 aircraft which the United States and Britain plan to buy.

REUTERS.4 billion second engine development contract for the F-35 last month, dealing a blow to the UK's Rolls-Royce which was playing a key role on the programme.

The JSF is a family of radar-evading, supersonic, multi-role warplanes being co-financed by seven countries along with the United States and Britain Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway.

Foreign partners, led by Britain which has committed Blackburn (England), Mar 31: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told reporters today that differences with Britain over the sensitive issue of defence technology transfer were being worked out.

''We are working on any problems about technology sharing. It's a complicated matter, everyone wants to protect technology, but these issues are being worked out as they should, among friends,'' Rice told reporters on a visit to a UK plant doing work on the US-led Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) combat jet, a programme which has stirred UK concerns about technology transfer.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw added: ''It is an issue.

It's being discussed as the Secretary says, between the governments and the companies concerned.'' The head of British military procurement told the US Congress this month that the UK would be unable to follow through with plans to buy Lockheed Martin Corp.'s next-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter unless the United States could ensure that Britain would be able to do its own upgrades, including software, once the jets enter service.

Australia and Italy have voiced similar concerns while Norway has expressed concern that its defence industry will not receive sufficient workshare from the JSF programme.

Adding to British concerns was a US decision to scrap a $2.4 billion second engine development contract for the F-35 last month, dealing a blow to the UK's Rolls-Royce which was playing a key role on the programme.

The JSF is a family of radar-evading, supersonic, multi-role warplanes being co-financed by seven countries along with the United States and Britain Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway.

Foreign partners, led by Britain which has committed $2 billion, together account for about 10 per cent of the development funding.

It's the costliest international warplane project in history, expected to cost more than $250 billion for the 2,593 aircraft which the United States and Britain plan to buy.

REUTERS billion, together account for about 10 per cent of the development funding.

It's the costliest international warplane project in history, expected to cost more than 0 billion for the 2,593 aircraft which the United States and Britain plan to buy.

REUTERS