THE Defence Minister, Brendan Nelson, has ordered a new proposal for an alternative to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter amid concerns the $15 billion project cannot be delivered as promised.
Dr Nelson also acknowledged the high risks in the Government's strategy for a new air combat capability that maintains Australia's long-held, and strategically vital, air dominance in the region.
He was impressed by the fighter's potential and believed, if delivered on time and for the promised price, it would be "the correct aircraft for us".
"I have said to Defence that I want a well-developed alternative. We don't have to finally commit to the Joint Strike Force by 2008 but I want to make sure we have a well-developed alternative well in advance of that."
He said he would not move the program to cabinet until alternatives were analysed and at least one selected. He would not identify what those alternatives might be. But Defence analysts have said the potent F-22 Raptor, the F-16 fighter jet and the Super Hornet, or a combination of them, were the likely candidates.
The fighter is not only the most expensive Defence project ever, it's the biggest investment by the Commonwealth since Federation. About 100 of the high-tech stealth fighters has been earmarked to replace the F-111s and the F/A-18 Hornets from 2010.
The Hornets will be upgraded, for $3 billion, to fill the gap if the Joint Strike Fighter is late. But major problems have hit the upgrade, notably its new electronic warfare self-protection system cannot be integrated. The Australian system, which alerts pilots to threats, had "technical difficulties" and may be abandoned in favour of another model.
The Joint Strike Fighter is in development, but there are concerns its price will skyrocket and delivery time fall back years. Congress is threatening to cut the program's budget.
If the US military, whose budget has blown out due to the Iraq war, cuts its production order, the price will go up substantially. Britain has already cut its order and others may follow
Would be great to see the RAAF get a mixed fleet of F-22s and FA-18Es.....
Give the new gen of knucks something to beat the meat over and keep the bros to the north in their place for a few more decades.
