Just because you don't see it on the 5 o'clock news doesn't mean our jets don't see action!
The Iraq deployment got very Little publicity, didn't make it any less real though.
The F111 does
not have low survivability, but yes it is expensive to run.
Switzerland has the biggest airforce fleet (per capita) in the world, and they have never even been invaded. But it's still a big stick wave at any would be invaders.
Now think about Australian history, it only around 66 years ago when we DID have an invading force at our doorstep.
I still find it funny how so many people are only looking at the whole issue with blinkers on, a defence
strategy involved more than just a single entity (strike platform), hence the criteria is quite specific.
Plus think of some of the logistical advantages;
- It takes 2-3 days to convert a rated hornet pilot to the Super Hornet, it would take considerably more time (and money!) to convert any of our other air crew to another platform.
- We have engineers who are rated on the F18, and only need a bridging course instead of a whole new rating.
- We have existing relationships with Boeing, and Boeing has significant infrastructure in Australia
- We already know how to integrate in to Boeing systems.
- We deal largely with the US in other conflicts, so borrowing some munitions is possible because of interface commonality. The same cannot be said for our European and Russian counterparts.
- We just spent a few billion on Wedgtail (Boeing), so having a fighter/strike platform that has systems ready to integrate with it makes a LOT of sense.
- And the list goes on, but I've run out of time!
