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Strike fighters give Australia ability to project massive air power Strike fighters give Australia ability to project massive air power
(4 months later)
“To Australia the aeroplane has come bringing gifts in both its hands,” the then prime minister, Billy Hughes, remarked in 1935. Australia already had a measure of protection from foreign attack by virtue of its sheer remoteness, but Hughes recognised what has since become a touchstone of Australian strategic policy: that the ability to project massive air power across the continent could make invasion nearly impossible.“To Australia the aeroplane has come bringing gifts in both its hands,” the then prime minister, Billy Hughes, remarked in 1935. Australia already had a measure of protection from foreign attack by virtue of its sheer remoteness, but Hughes recognised what has since become a touchstone of Australian strategic policy: that the ability to project massive air power across the continent could make invasion nearly impossible.
“If our resources will not suffice to furnish with all arms of defence, we must concentrate on aircraft,” he said.“If our resources will not suffice to furnish with all arms of defence, we must concentrate on aircraft,” he said.
Maintaining superiority in the air was behind the federal government’s decision on Wednesday to finally approve the $12.4bn purchase of 58 F-35 joint strike fighters, bringing our total F-35 fleet to 72 aircraft, but it’s been a turbulent journey.Maintaining superiority in the air was behind the federal government’s decision on Wednesday to finally approve the $12.4bn purchase of 58 F-35 joint strike fighters, bringing our total F-35 fleet to 72 aircraft, but it’s been a turbulent journey.
Australia first signed on to help fund the development of the F-35 in 2002, scrapping research into other options. The F-35 was billed as the most advanced military aircraft ever built, a “fifth generation” aircraft that would represent a quantum leap forward from older designs, and at a low price.Australia first signed on to help fund the development of the F-35 in 2002, scrapping research into other options. The F-35 was billed as the most advanced military aircraft ever built, a “fifth generation” aircraft that would represent a quantum leap forward from older designs, and at a low price.
At the time, Senate estimates was told the flyaway cost of each aircraft would amount to around $52m in today’s dollars and Australian pilots would be behind the controls by 2012.At the time, Senate estimates was told the flyaway cost of each aircraft would amount to around $52m in today’s dollars and Australian pilots would be behind the controls by 2012.
Those promises are now regarded as “wildly optimistic”, according to defence analysts Andrew Davies and Harry White.Those promises are now regarded as “wildly optimistic”, according to defence analysts Andrew Davies and Harry White.
Costs have grown by around 70% and the project is seven years behind schedule. The department of defence said on Wednesday that the F-35 won’t enter service by 2020. Meanwhile the flyaway cost has ballooned to around $133m, expected to drop to just under $100m by 2018.Costs have grown by around 70% and the project is seven years behind schedule. The department of defence said on Wednesday that the F-35 won’t enter service by 2020. Meanwhile the flyaway cost has ballooned to around $133m, expected to drop to just under $100m by 2018.
The delay has been expensive. To fill the gap between the retirement of the old F-111 strike aircraft and introduction of the F-35, the defence force purchased 24 Super Hornet strike fighters in 2006 and an additional 12 Growler electronic warfare aircraft last year. Davies and White estimate those costs to be just under $10bn.The delay has been expensive. To fill the gap between the retirement of the old F-111 strike aircraft and introduction of the F-35, the defence force purchased 24 Super Hornet strike fighters in 2006 and an additional 12 Growler electronic warfare aircraft last year. Davies and White estimate those costs to be just under $10bn.
US Senator John McCain said last year that the fighter’s surging cost to American taxpayers “made it worse than a disgrace” and “one of the great, national scandals that we have ever had”. Another early F-35 enthusiast, the Netherlands, last year baulked at the fighter’s price tag, cutting its original order from 85 planes down to 37.US Senator John McCain said last year that the fighter’s surging cost to American taxpayers “made it worse than a disgrace” and “one of the great, national scandals that we have ever had”. Another early F-35 enthusiast, the Netherlands, last year baulked at the fighter’s price tag, cutting its original order from 85 planes down to 37.
Last month, in an Australian Strategic Policy Institute paper, Davies and White considered the decision that lay ahead of the government. It would be far cheaper to buy additional Super Hornet strike fighters, they said. Maintaining a single-type fleet of strike aircraft, rather than a mixed fleet, would also cut costs. And both the F-35 and the Super Hornet would effectively deter a foreign invasion.Last month, in an Australian Strategic Policy Institute paper, Davies and White considered the decision that lay ahead of the government. It would be far cheaper to buy additional Super Hornet strike fighters, they said. Maintaining a single-type fleet of strike aircraft, rather than a mixed fleet, would also cut costs. And both the F-35 and the Super Hornet would effectively deter a foreign invasion.
“If it’s about defence of Australia, either option would work. Projecting intercontinental power remains a formidably difficult task, and Australia is unlikely to come under direct threat from a major power in the foreseeable future,” they said.“If it’s about defence of Australia, either option would work. Projecting intercontinental power remains a formidably difficult task, and Australia is unlikely to come under direct threat from a major power in the foreseeable future,” they said.
But if it was about getting the best aircraft possible, participating in military coalitions in support of allies such as the US, and future-proofing Australia’s air superiority, “an F-35 purchase is the natural choice”.But if it was about getting the best aircraft possible, participating in military coalitions in support of allies such as the US, and future-proofing Australia’s air superiority, “an F-35 purchase is the natural choice”.
“In the strike fighter role the F-35 is a far more capable aircraft than the Super Hornet and would give greater capability against a more capable adversary, including the ability to penetrate sophisticated air defences,” they said.“In the strike fighter role the F-35 is a far more capable aircraft than the Super Hornet and would give greater capability against a more capable adversary, including the ability to penetrate sophisticated air defences,” they said.
And there’s another consideration in the F-35’s favour. “Backing away from the F-35 would incur a political cost in Washington with the US government, the Pentagon and the Congress,” Davies and White said.And there’s another consideration in the F-35’s favour. “Backing away from the F-35 would incur a political cost in Washington with the US government, the Pentagon and the Congress,” Davies and White said.
“Because we’re an international program partner on the JSF, the economies of scale for other buyers, including the US, will be reduced if we don’t purchase the aircraft.”“Because we’re an international program partner on the JSF, the economies of scale for other buyers, including the US, will be reduced if we don’t purchase the aircraft.”
The Pentagon revised down its deadline for introducing the F-35 two years ago, reflecting a development process that was much improved after 2010, but the aircraft is not yet out of trouble. A US government report issued in January slammed problems with the F-35’s software as “unacceptable” and warned of lingering issues with the plane’s maintenance and reliability.The Pentagon revised down its deadline for introducing the F-35 two years ago, reflecting a development process that was much improved after 2010, but the aircraft is not yet out of trouble. A US government report issued in January slammed problems with the F-35’s software as “unacceptable” and warned of lingering issues with the plane’s maintenance and reliability.
In March, the head of the program, Air Force Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan, said on a visit to Australia that parts of the plane were still coming off mid-air “too frequently”. That same month, the US Congress’s budget watchdog, the General Accounting Office, said that problems with reliability deemed the aircraft “unaffordable”.In March, the head of the program, Air Force Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan, said on a visit to Australia that parts of the plane were still coming off mid-air “too frequently”. That same month, the US Congress’s budget watchdog, the General Accounting Office, said that problems with reliability deemed the aircraft “unaffordable”.
On Wednesday, the defence minister, David Johnston, said he expected a smooth landing for the F-35 in Australia, but that the new fleet would be purchased in batches, just in case.On Wednesday, the defence minister, David Johnston, said he expected a smooth landing for the F-35 in Australia, but that the new fleet would be purchased in batches, just in case.
"We are purchasing each year. There is flexibility in that purchasing regime for us to defer, for us to be unhappy as a customer. We've built that flexibility in," he said. "We are purchasing each year. There is flexibility in that purchasing regime for us to defer, for us to be unhappy as a customer. We've built that flexibility in," he said.