Former Air Commander calls for JSF to be debated

[Guest VH-TJT]

Source: Australian Aviation Express

 

A former RAAF Air Commander Australia, AVM (ret) Peter Criss has called for the decision to acquire the F-35 JSF to be re-examined and the F-22 to be considered to fulfil Australia's next air combat capability (NACC). A former F-111 pilot and considered one of Australia's most experience fast jet pilots, AVM Criss was controversially dismissed from his position as ACAUST in 2000 and subsequently fought a five year battle for compensation for the dismissal.

 

AVM Criss claims the goal of having an aircraft which can be all things to all services wont work, and points to the failed attempt to make a naval fighter out of the F-111 in the 1960s. "We got an excellent bomber but a worthless fighter," he was quoted as saying in a September 28 article in The Age newspaper. "The two roles are too incompatible for a common platform, and I don't care how far technology has moved." AVM Criss also called for more public debate on the issue and that government should reveal its reasons for backing the F-35. "There must be an open debate between all interested Australian parties, at a neutral location, on all aspects associated with the selection of a replacement aircraft or aircrafts for the existing F/A-18 and the F-111 fleets."

 

"There appears to be very little if any difference in price between the two contenders and yet there is no comparison in capability, with the F-22 demonstrating proven performance well beyond anything the JSF is likely to deliver when it eventually comes off paper and into production," AVM Criss added, referring to likely price rises for the F-35 in the wake of a US Congress enforced development slow down of the aircraft. However, in a decision which coincided with AVM Criss's comments, the US House and Senate defence appropriations committee has decided to not offer the F-22 on its foreign military sales (FMS) list, meaning the aircraft is not currently available for sale outside of the US. "None of the funds made available in this [legislation] may be used to approve or license the sale of the F-22A advanced tactical fighter to any foreign government," the September 26 report reads.

TJT