Originally Posted by
zanthrus
The Beriev Be-200 Altair would be a good machine for the job, but I don't see the Australian government buying Russian aircraft anytime soon. Even if they are perfect for the job. They would rather buy expensive lemons from the US @ A (F-35). Not a fire bomber, but an example of when a perfectly good Sukhoi would have been a better and cheaper choice to replace the F18 and the long departed F111.
And then try and fit a Sukhoi into a network made up largely of other American built systems. It’s hard enough with European platforms. Goodbye to interopability with our Allies too.