Carlo Kopp is one of the most vocal proponents of the Aussies buying Raptor-The best way to do that is to ratchet up the threat of Russian Flankers & rubbish the SuperHornets & Lightnings.One of his suggestions is to buy F-22s for air superiority & keep the F-111s going till about 2020,when the Strike variant of the Raptor appears.
Yes, but what is his real agenda. He doesn't want them to buy the best available weapons by holding out an unobtainable carrot? Even if they were available, the Australians couldn't afford enough F-22s to form a credible force.
If they aren't going to buy the F-35s, they might as well shop for Russian planes.