The Joint Strike Fighter

THE global stealth fighter of the future is likely to become part of the Royal Australian Air Force's arsenal under a program announced by Defence Minister Robert Hill.
On advice from the Air Force, the Government has decided to participate in the systems development phase of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a new class of combat fighter designed from the outset with affordable stealth in mind.

The Department of Defence will negotiate with the United States to join the project.
The Air Force believes the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) will meet the capability requirements that it is seeking as part of the Air 6000 program.

Senator Hill said the Government would commit $300 million over the next 10 years as a level-three partner in the phase, placing Australia at the forefront of developing the world's most advanced combat aircraft.

The JSF will be a radar-evading, supersonic, multi-role fighter. It will have an internal weapons bay and state-of-the-art software and radar technology.

The aircraft will be characterised by its "low observability" design and will feature advanced electro-optical and infrared sensors and the ability to employ a wide range of air-to-surface and air-to-air weapons.

Senator Hill said a decision to purchase the aircraft would not be made until 2006.
If Australia decides to buy the JSF, it expects to do so from about 2012 onwards, replacing its ageing fleet of F/A-18 Hornets and F-111 strike aircraft.
"What we're doing here is investing in the development of the project ... becoming a partner in what is clearly the global stealth fighter of the future," Senator Hill said.
"In terms of the alternatives that will be around in the post 2012 era, we don't believe there are any others that will meet our capability requirements."

More than 4500 F-35s are expected to be produced and each will cost about $US40 million to purchase. Senator Hill said Australia could buy up to 100 aircraft.
"Ultimately it will be the largest military procurement in Australia's history," he said.
Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Angus Houston welcomed the Government's decision, saying it represented an exciting direction for the Air Force.
"This is a bold decision by the Government, a decision that will carry the Royal Australian Air Force into the future," AIRMSHL Houston said. "The Joint Strike Fighter is a fifth-generation aircraft, and when you have a look at its capabilities, they are the capabilities of the future."
AIRMSHL Houston said the Air Force needed to consider its future capability as its F/A-18 and F-111 fleets aged.

"The JSF's technology will be maturing as our existing fleet reaches retirement," he said.
"We will be investing in the long term, not just for the short term.
"It's a very enlightened decision that ensures we will be able to control the air approaches above our northern land areas and also our maritime operations."
He said the advanced aircraft would be compatible with airborne early warning and control systems.

By Ben Caddaye