Posted on 08/05/2006 3:55:51 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Back-up ordered for next warplane Tom Allard National Security Editor August 2, 2006
THE Defence Minister, Brendan Nelson, has ordered a new proposal for an alternative to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter amid concerns the $15 billion project cannot be delivered as promised.
Dr Nelson also acknowledged the high risks in the Government's strategy for a new air combat capability that maintains Australia's long-held, and strategically vital, air dominance in the region.
He was impressed by the fighter's potential and believed, if delivered on time and for the promised price, it would be "the correct aircraft for us".
"Equally, this is not only the most expensive, it's the highest risk acquisition we will have ever made," he told the Herald.
"I have said to Defence that I want a well-developed alternative. We don't have to finally commit to the Joint Strike Force by 2008 but I want to make sure we have a well-developed alternative well in advance of that."
He said he would not move the program to cabinet until alternatives were analysed and at least one selected. He would not identify what those alternatives might be. But Defence analysts have said the potent F-22 Raptor, the F-16 fighter jet and the Super Hornet, or a combination of them, were the likely candidates.
The fighter is not only the most expensive Defence project ever, it's the biggest investment by the Commonwealth since Federation. About 100 of the high-tech stealth fighters has been earmarked to replace the F-111s and the F/A-18 Hornets from 2010.
The Hornets will be upgraded, for $3 billion, to fill the gap if the Joint Strike Fighter is late. But as the Herald revealed, major problems have hit the upgrade, notably its new electronic warfare self-protection system cannot be integrated. Dr Nelson confirmed the Australian system, which alerts pilots to threats, had "technical difficulties" and may be abandoned in favour of another model.
The Joint Strike Fighter is in development, but there are concerns its price will skyrocket and delivery time fall back years. "What most threatens the thing is beyond our control, the US political system," Dr Nelson said. Congress is threatening to cut the program's budget and has ordered its manufacturer to test more before production.
If the US military, whose budget has blown out due to the Iraq war, cuts its production order, the price will go up substantially. Britain has already cut its order and others may follow.
ping...
Austrailia already flys F-18s.
The Aussies can't afford nor do they need the F-22. If they don't want the F-35 then Block 60 F-16E/Fs makes more sense to replace the Vark, but given they already fly E/A-18A/Bs even more sense is to buy F/A-18E/F Super Hornets.
The SuperHornet offers poor range & Oz needs something which can go a longway to replace the F-111 effectively..
ep if you are talking of power projection upto the Malacca straits or South China Sea.The F-35 despite all its advances doesn't offer that.The F-15E has great range & payload.Not to forget possibly the French Rafale which can carry conformal fuel tanks.But ideally an improved SuperHornet would be best.
Why wouldn't my beloved EF do any good ? It's got enough wet ports and can do the supercruise a bit to cover these wide fields. F-18s certainly would cut the spare parts costs. (Not to neglect... by far not)
I agree that the F-15E with AESA radar would be the closest direct replacement for the Aussie F-111Gs, but I'm not sure the F-15 production line is still open.
In any case, the F-22 is not the aircraft Australia needs for it's maritime interdiction role, and it is way too much aircraft for it's air superiority role.
The F-15 line is still open for Singapore's buy of 20 F- 15Ts.Both South Korea & Israel are also contemplating a purchase of around 20 aircraft each.Besides the type is on offer for Japan's replacement of its' F-4 phantoms.So the line could be kept idle till atleast 2008-09.
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