U.S. Refuses to Allow Israel to Join Joint Strike Fighter Program

The United States is resisting Israeli requests to participate in the Joint Strike Fighter program out of concern that classified technology might be leaked to countries unfriendly to the United States, such as China. Israel is considering level three "informed partner" status in America's largest ever fighter development program. This is the lowest category of participation, costs $200 million, and allows Israel access to project information to better understand and evaluate the aircraft for its use, but does not allow Israel to influence the aircraft's requirements.