Posted on 04/24/2014 6:20:13 PM PDT by naturalman1975
.....The Abbott government has made the right decision in announcing the purchase of 58 more JSFs. This will provide ultimately a fleet of 72 of the most formidable fighter jets the world has seen. Bill Shorten deserves credit for backing this decision. His instincts on geostrategic issues are all sound, which is good for the Labor Party, and for Australia. The JSF acquisition speaks to the character of the Abbott government and settles several theological questions about its approach to defence.
The Abbott government is clearly serious about security. It wants the Australian Defence Force to have a high-end war- fighting capability, not to be a glorified police force. Although the $12.4 billion set aside for the 58 JSFs does not involve new money, the Abbott government’s commitment to significant capability in defence, in a time of straitened budgetary circumstances, is profoundly in the national interest.
Australia, a rich country with a vast land mass and tiny population, has had as doctrine the maintenance of a technological edge. This is possible because we are rich and we are US allies. Ten other US friends and allies have committed to the JSF. Japan and South Korea will buy JSFs, and Singapore is very likely to.
The JSF is a fifth-generation stealth fighter. The alternatives available to us, such as a larger fleet of F18 Super Hornets, are fourth-generation planes. The epochal importance of the JSF decision is illustrated this way. If we had made any other decision, we would have been deliberately choosing, for the first time in our modern history, to abandon any serious effort to maintain a technological edge in defence.....
This decision also almost certainly means the Abbott government will proceed to some significant defence budget increase before the end of its first term.....
(Excerpt) Read more at theaustralian.com.au ...
Many commentators this morning here have a highly pacifistic focus. The announcement of this purchase at a time when there are probably going to be cuts to health and welfare announced is upsetting the Left wing commentariat (although as the article says, the Leader of the Opposition, and the Labor Party in general are supporting the purchase). They just do not seem to understand that the ability to fight wars is what makes a nation safe - and makes those wars less likely, and often less deadly.
Cancel the JSF/F-35.
The money would be much better spent on bringing the Northrop F-23 to production; to be manufactured only within Australia, Japan, and the U.S.A.
But....you are buying a pig in a poke.
Apologies for my fellow Americans comparing the most practical and realistic solution to expensive and impractical alternatives that are not materializing, even in the U.S.A. With the versatility and abilities of the JSF, Australia made the greatest Pacific Rim security choice in fighters. It was also wise to make sure that the bugs were worked out, as with any recently engineered machine.
F-35 Lightning II
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RtrL77IeGc
Australia was one of several nations that helped to develop the F-35 (U.S.A, U.K., Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway).
I'm completely clueless as to their capabilities but the fix is definitely in for the JSF.
Some old news.
F35 fighter takes shape at UK factory 21.01.13
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDdD4B6tmY0
Royal Air Force F-35 Test Pilot Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLSsLCMsCrM
A Dutch F-35 Lightning II is flown by a Royal Netherlands Air Force Pilot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tonzdZGWtbU
F-35A to change South Korea’s airborne operation tactics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTm2_LT0Hfo
Japan plans to retain 100 stealth fighter F-35
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3TsSsbtx58
Congratulations for ANZAC day and it is great to have your nation as an ally.
Spent part of my day with some of your armed forces today. I wish I had realized that today was ANZAC day.
Respect, admiration, Salute!
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