호주의 F-35 JSF 구매 계획, Australia support $16bn JSF purchase...

 

호주 정부가 총액 약 160억 호주달러 (AUD) 에 이르는 호주 공군의 (RAAF) F-35 JSF 도입사업을 계속해서 지원 하겠다는

내용입니다. 미국에서는 DoD 의 JSF 개발사업팀과 제작사 록히드마틴간의 개발비 상승에 따른 논의가 여전히 진행중인

가운데, 호주 정부의 이런 발표에 대해 우려하는 의견도 언급되어 있습니다.

 

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Defence chiefs support $16bn joint strike fighter purchase

The Australian    11/24/2009

Author: Patrick Walters

 

AUSTRALIA'S defence chiefs have firmly backed the RAAF's planned $16 billion investment in the joint strike fighter, with cabinet's national security committee due to consider a go-ahead for the fifth generation aircraft today.

 

A Defence Department submission recommending "second pass" approval for Australia's largest-ever defence purchase will be considered by Kevin Rudd and senior ministers, as the government searches for big budget savings over the next four years.

 

Under Defence's plan, the RAAF would acquire its first F-35 fighters for test and evaluation in 2014 but will not acquire an operational squadron until 2018-19 at the earliest.

 

The RAAF wants to buy up to 100 F-35s to replace its F/A-18 "classic Hornets" and the soon-to-be-retired F-111 strike force, but the Rudd government's initial acquisition approval is expected to be for as few as 14 aircraft.

 

Senior government sources say an alternative proposal to buy an extra squadron of F/A-18 Super Hornet fighters and trim the planned number of F-35s has not been seriously considered by defence chiefs.

 

The RAAF will get its first squadron of the Boeing-manufactured Super Hornets next year and proponents of the plan argue that buying up to 24 extra Super Hornets and cutting the planned F-35 buy from 100 to 50 aircraft could save the taxpayer at least $3bn.

 

Andrew Davies, from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, says buying extra Super Hornets would also enable Australia to buy less expensive and more capable F-35 fighters later in the production cycle, as well as make big budget savings.

 

"With the JSF production schedule slipping to the right, the lifetime of the existing "classic" F/A-18 Hornets is also looming as a major risk," Dr Davies told The Australian. Under the RAAF's current planning 72 F-35s will replace the RAAF's ageing "classic" Hornets from later next decade, with the 24 Super Hornets making up a fighter combat arm of 100 aircraft.

 

Senior government sources say the Rudd government's budget problems remain the only serious obstacle to getting a green light for the F-35 fighter deal.

 

But the Defence plan to delay the acquisition by at least two years will ease budget pressures over the current forward estimates period out to 2013.

 

Both Defence Minister John Faulkner and Defence Materiel Minister Greg Combet remain fully committed to the joint strike fighter as the best choice for Australia's future air combat arm.

 

Senior representatives from the F-35's manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, gave a lengthy briefing on progress with the F-35 program late last week.

 

Pentagon chiefs are currently reviewing progress on the joint strike fighter program, with an internal joint evaluation team pointing to a requirement for additional budget support if the F-35 is to meet its development and production milestones. The US military plans to buy up to 2450 F-35s.