JSF project’s advantages

THE Government’s decision to participate in the Systems Development and Demonstration phase of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Project was a good example of its new approach to Defence acquisitions, Defence Minister Robert Hill has told the National Press Club.

In Senator Hill’s keynote address to the Press Club, entitled “Defence Acquisitions – Getting it Right”, he used the JSF Project to highlight a new mindset when it came to major acquisitions.

“Clearly, Defence acquisition is one of the nation’s largest and most important endeavours,” he said.

He explained that in the past, decisions on major acquisitions tended to be made too late for Australian industry to have the chance to compete in the development and production phases of major programs.

So when it became obvious that the Government and Australian industry would not benefit from protracted competition within Air 6000 – the Air Force’s new aerospace combat capability – a timely decision was made to be part of the JSF Project, allowing industry to concentrate its efforts on the most practical solution for Australia.

“Moreover, there are now opportunities to participate in the global JSF market – numbering well over 3000 aircraft – and not just those aircraft to be acquired by Australia,” Senator Hill said.

He said the approach would deliver significant advantages to both the ADF and the taxpayer.

He said the Government had saved both Defence and the potential contenders another two years’ expenditure on a “pointless competition”.

Australian industry, he added, was also set to become part of the biggest ever international defence program and had an opportunity to influence that program.

He also said the Systems Development and Demonstration investment meant that any subsequent decision to purchase the JSF would cost less.

• By Shane Fairlie
  
  

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