More than 200 organisations worldwide have called on nations involved in producing F-35 fighter jets to “immediately halt all arms transfers to Israel” amid fears they have failed to prevent the planes from being used to violate international law.
The letter, signed by 232 civil society organisations, was sent on Monday to government ministers in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the US and the UK as the war in Gaza reached 500 days.
The sponsors hail from the jet-building nations as well as Belgium, Jordan, Lebanon, Switzerland, Ireland, India and elsewhere. High-profile charities and NGOs, such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Oxfam, are among the sponsors.
I thought only the US produces F35s? Dont they have marines in every nation’s airbases that have bought the jet to make sure the purchasing nation never owns the software, only the jet itself?
Theres a big difference between “producers” and suppliers.
Many European nations make parts for the F35 such as the front radar and parts of the engine.
Yeah I fully agree, but they do not “produce” the F35. They supply Lockheed Martin with their products, which then incorporates them and “produces” the jets. The article is poorly worded.
They’re supplying complex components so they’ll be involved in design of interfaces and supply software. It’s not inappropriate to say they’re producing it, even if it’s a relatively minor role.
