"Wow! Jump jets for the RAAF to serve on navy carriers? Smart if it's an mature technology purchase I guess, but who are we fighting and would cruise missiles on AWD's and LHD based attack helicopters not suffice in the region?"
The thing is, not everything can be done by cruise missiles and Helos.
If they could, the LHD for amphib soldiers and commandos wouldn't be required.
"in the region?""
We don't just operate "in the region" though.
Gulf War 1 being an example.
RAAF, RAN, Army = Joint / Combined ops, was being preached
way back in 1988.