$12.4B for 72 jets with support and infrastructure = welcome to the acquisition cost, the flyaway is but a part of this.
*with the hit our dollar has taken, that 12B is more like 15B now
what we see as current risk
http://search.defence.gov.au/search?...ess=p&oe=UTF-8
Both of Australia’s F-35 pilots have qualified and continue to operate at the International Pilot Training Centre, Luke Air Force Base Arizona. The long lead items and support for next eight F-35A aircraft have been contracted. The construction of facilities at RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales has continued on schedule. The sustainment model, including training for Australian based support continues to be developed.
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The risk profile of the project remains largely unchanged:
• Agreement by the US to fund the next two years of production to enable planned ramp up in production represents a reduction in aircraft cost risk for Australia.
• Stand up and delivery of an effective and timely F-35 Australian based training has emerged as a risk.
• The JSF air system continues to mature at a slow and steady pace. The Autonomic Logistic Information System (ALIS) and reprogramming capabilities remain major risks.
• The timely delivery of key infrastructure at RAAF Base Williamtown and RAAF Base Tindal, Northern Territory, remain a high risk. The potential for the RAAF Base Williamtown ground water contamination issue to impact facilities delivery being an emerging risk which is being managed.
The variance can be primarily attributed to delays in finalising contracts and the variable receipt of invoices through the US Government contracting processes.