Leading edge air combat capability is essential for Australia’s security.
Australia’s next investment in air combat capability will be one of the single biggest investments in defence the Australian taxpayer has ever made.
The 2009 Defence White Paper confirmed that Australia will acquire around 100 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) to be the core of our future air combat capability.
The 2008-09 Air Combat Capability Review concluded that a fleet of some 100 fifth generation multi-role combat aircraft would provide Australia with the required capability to 2030 and that the JSF is the preferred platform.
The JSF is a true fifth generation, multi role, stealth fighter that meets Australia’s future air combat needs.
When integrated into the networked Australian Defence Force, the JSF will allow us to maintain a regional capability edge out to 2030 and beyond in an affordable way for the planned 30 year service life of the aircraft.
The JSF achieves its capability edge through a combination of stealth, advanced sensors and communications and advanced weapons.
Following the retirement of Australia’s F-111 aircraft by the end of 2010, Air Force’s current fleet of F/A-18A/B Hornets will be supplemented by a squadron of F/A-18F Super Hornets as a bridging air combat capability until the introduction of the JSF.
The first batch of JSFs—no fewer than 72 Conventional Take Off & Landing aircraft—will form three operational squadrons and a training squadron to replace the current fleet of F/A-18A/B Hornets.
A decision on the acquisition timing and buy profile will be made when Government considers Second Pass approval, planned for 2009/10 – 2010/11.
Government will take into account the investments that have already been made in F/A-18A/B Hornet upgrades, the recent acquisition of 24 Super Hornets, weapons upgrade programs and the significant enabling capability provided by acquisition of five Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft and six Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft.
Separate projects will be undertaken to deliver state of the art air-to-air, air-to-surface and maritime strike weapons to complete the capability that will be delivered by our JSF multi-role aircraft.
Australian pilots and maintainers will initially conduct training in the U.S. until the Australian training centre is established at RAAF Base Williamtown, the primary base for Australia’s JSF.
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