Importance to the F-35 JSF program
The F-35 Partner Support Complex is indispensable for the operation of all F-35 aircraft, both those in US military service and those exported to partner nations, except Israel. In order to execute any mission, the F-35 first needs Mission Data Files (MDFs) to be uploaded to its onboard computer (containing such sensitive data as information on the targets, the enemy assets defending the target, the optimal flight trajectory to reach the target safely, the optimal trajectory to return home safely, etc.).
These MDFs may be furnished to the onboard computers of the exported F-35 aircraft only by the F-35 Partner Support Complex, except those exported to Israel.
At the F-35 Partner Support Complex, these MDFs are compiled and then uploaded to exported F-35s' onboard computers by:
- 40 British, 20 Australian, and 35 US personnel for aircraft exported to the UK and Australia;
- 8 Italian, 7 Norwegian and 35 US personnel for aircraft exported to Italy and Norway;
- 40 US personnel for F-35 aircraft exported to all other customer nations, except Israel.
According to aviation journalist Bill Sweetman, the UK requested U.S. authorization to establish its own Reprogramming Lab on UK soil, in 2006 to the Bush Administration and again in 2009 to the Obama Administration, but was refused both times.
United States
United States Air Force
