Lawmakers say Britain should cancel fighter jet deal unless U.S. shares technology

LONDON (AP) - A simmering row between Britain and the United States over stealth technology appeared poised to erupt again Friday after a panel of influential lawmakers said Britain should consider pulling out of the multinational, US$256 billion (euro193 billion) Joint Strike Fighter project. The annual report by the Parliamentary Defence Committee said it was "still uncertain" that the United States would hand over the sensitive information needed to operate the aircraft independently, despite U.S. President George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair announcing such an agreement in May. The committee said that Britain should pull out of the agreement and look for alternatives if the technology is not handed over by the end of the year. "If the U.K. does not obtain the assurances it needs from the United States, then it should not sign the Memorandum of Understanding covering production, sustainment and follow-on development," the report said. "Such an impasse on a procurement program of such strategic importance to the U.K. would be a serious blow to U.K.-U.S. defence equipment cooperation, which has hitherto been of such positive benefit to both our nations." 081549 dec 06GMT