THE Government should consider purchasing the short take-off and
vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter and
more air-to-air refuelling (AAR) tankers, according to a parliamentary
committee.
The recommendations were made in the Joint Standing Committee
on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade’s report on Australia’s
Maritime Strategy.
The Government has indicated it might buy up to 100 of the conventional
take-off and landing variant of the F-35, and it has approved
the purchase of five tankers, based on the European Airbus A330.
The committee recommended that, if in 2006 the Government confirmed it would proceed with the JSF purchase, then it should look
at acquiring some STOVL versions to provide “organic air cover
while it is engaged in regional operations”.
The committee was aware of reports the STOVL F-35 was “subject
to weight issues”. It said if the JSF was not available by 2012,
the Government should investigate the costs of prolonging the
lifespan of the F/A-18A and provide details on the range of options
to maintain air superiority in the region.
Despite the Government’s commitment to buy five multi-role tanker
transport aircraft, the committee recommended that Defence review
that number as it believed “Defence may require more AARs than
has currently been planned” to mount effective combat operations.
The committee supported the ADF’s plans to acquire unmanned aerial
vehicles. “This type of capability offers real advances in efficiency and surveillance time,” the committee stated.
The committee also recommended a new Defence White Paper be issued
in 2005-06 to take into account the need for flexible joint forces.
The committee said its inquiry gave an opportunity to examine
the relevance and effectiveness of Australia’s overall defence
objectives and strategies.
