Australia starts showing signs of nervousness concerning the way the F35 is evolving it seems
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THE Gillard government will consider buying up to 24 new F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter-bombers in a decision that would sharply reduce reliance on the troubled Joint Strike Fighter.
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Although one of the options in a defence paper is to continue with the plan to purchase up to 100 JSFs, the government is believed to favour buying more of the cheaper and more immediately available Super Hornets.
If it does buy another 24 Super Hornets, that is likely to reduce the number of JSFs ultimately needed by the RAAF.
The Howard government ordered 24 Super Hornets in 2007 after the F-111s were retired earlier than intended because of safety concerns.
Australia has already spent $1.5 billion fitting out 12 of those Super Hornets with sophisticated Growler electronic warfare equipment able to paralyse an enemy's communications and missile systems.
In addition to the original 24 Super Hornets, the RAAF has 71 older Classic FA/18 Hornets.