January 17

What happened on January 17 in aviation and space history.

• January 17, 2001

  The United Kingdom signs the memorandum making it a tier-one JSF partner

  Institutional — The United Kingdom signed a memorandum of understanding with the United States to take part in the Joint Strike Fighter's system development and demonstration phase, contributing two billion dollars. It was the only country admitted as a tier-one partner, with a say in the aircraft's requirements, a status tied to its need to replace the Sea Harrier and Harrier GR7. The signature came nine months before the competition's winner was known.