Wow! Some serious thread creep from the spotters amongst us. As much as us Aussies are getting pointy in our panties about B-21’s, V22’s V280’s F15EX’s etc etc etc, we are the ultimate Bower Birds.
We will collect, gesticulate, pontificate all to you know, whaticate.
The submarine “announcement” will hopefully come to fruition, it is a no brainer in the current climate of the Xiping Dragon, whom is no doubt hell bent on ruling the Pacific and Indian Oceans - no matter the cost. Subs like the Virginia and Astute will keep him worried, we need those subs. (P.S. I ain’t Chips n Gravy - not weird enough)
As for the Spotter/Bower Bird milk bottle top collectors, perhaps we should put our energy in to pressuring our government to shorten the time frame of an off the shelf Virginia/Astute boat.
The Lord knows the Amateur, sorry, Australian Army Aviation Corpse will try and turn any V22/V280 into an IFR RPT Rotary Airliner never able to deploy and waste at least a decade reinventing the round wheel into a square wheel.
The RAAF will most likely see greater benefit from Rapid Dragon and an expansion of the Transport fleet, rather than F15EX, they are smart enough to know it.
Here is truly hoping that all the milk bottle tops, hair ties, and discarded lego pieces that us Aussie’s collect - never need to be used, and that Xiping Dragon drops dead soon and the Chinese people are left to enjoy their great country in a peaceful way.