MORE than 220 organisations across the world have signed a letter to US President Joe Biden and members of Congress demanding an end to the US F-35 fighter jet programme.

CodePink, which is spearheading the campaign, launched the “Ground the F-35” campaign today at an online international press conference.

Among those joining the campaign were Ben Cohen, a co-founder of Ben and Jerry’s ice creams, renowned scholar and activist Noam Chomsky, musician Roger Waters, and anti-apartheid activist Andrew Feinstein.

The latest new piece of US military hardware is estimated to be costing around $1.7 trillion (£1.48tn) although costs are likely to increase significantly, according to campaigners.

CodePink said: “In a time of economic uncertainty, climate crisis, and the necessity for peace and stability for people and planet, over 220 organisations have joined together in an international campaign to end the United State’s F-35 programme.”

Pink Floyd rock star Roger Waters said: “I joined over 200 organisations from around the world in calling on the US government to end the disastrous F-35 fighter jet programme because as a global community we need to drastically change our priorities.”

Mr Waters added: “To the people in the countries the F-35 is sold to and produced in, it’s time we demand a reinvestment into life, not war.”

As the intention of the US is to sell the fighters across the globe, campaign organisations from the United States, Britain, Canada, Mexico, Paraguay, Germany, Spain, Kenya and Switzerland have signed up in support of the campaign.

Ruth Rohde, a board member at the Arms Information Centre in Germany, said: “Germany is looking to buy the F-35 to carry US nuclear weapons stationed here. Not only is this going to be a large, unnecessary financial burden but also sustains the disastrous, indefensible threat of nuclear war on and from German soil.”

Mr Cohen said: “The only people this project benefits are the executives at Lockheed Martin.”

He added: “The noise caused by the F-35 hits 115 decibels which especially hurts and injures infants and children, the elderly, and the disabled. 

“The F-35 has 300 to 600 takeoffs and landings a month. Madison, Wisconsin, residents are the next on the list to be subjected to this violation of personal privacy.”

An international day of action is being planned for 2023 to stop Mr Biden including the spend for the F-35 programme in his next defence budget.