F-35 Fighter Jet Delays
F-35 Fighter Jet Delays – Australia could be delivered aircraft with stripped-back war fighter capabilities, in addition to facing further cost blow-outs to the Joint Strike Fighter program, a leading analyst has said.
The price for each of the US-built new-generation fighter jets that will form the centrepiece of Australia’s future air defences is nearing $122 million – more than double the 2001 estimate.
Defence Minister John Faulkner yesterday defended Australia’s choice of the troubled aircraft to replace its ageing air combat fleet by 2018.
Yet the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s Andrew Davies said a new report by the US Government Accountability Office showed Australia’s problems with the Joint Strike Fighter were compounding beyond the delays announced last month as US Defence Secretary Robert Gates overhauled the project and sacked its head.
Mr Davies said the GAO report not only recommended an independent review of the program but also reassessing war fighter requirements and potentially deferring some capabilities in early aircraft. This could affect the aircraft delivered to Australia, which was early in the production schedule, he said.
Key US Defence Department personnel have detailed concerns to a US Senate committee hearing in Washington, blaming late delivery of test aircraft and the stalled development of key software for the project’s woes.
The department’s chief weapons buyer, Ashton Carter, said the shortcomings were unacceptable to US taxpayers and to the eight international partners, including Australia, relying on the aircraft to meet their air combat requirements. ”For our partners … the JSF will become a linchpin for future coalition operations and will help to close a crucial capability gap that will enhance the strength of our security alliances,” Dr Carter told the committee.
Tags: Air Defences, Andrew Davies, Ashton Carter, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Chief Weapons, Coalition Operations, Defence Minister John, Dr Carter, F 35 Fighter, Fighter Jets, Gao Report, Generation Fighter, Government Accountability Office, John Faulkner, Joint Strike Fighter Program, Robert Gates, Strategic Policy Institute, Us Government Accountability Office, Us Senate Committee, War Fighter
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