Australia signs for new fighter jet

[Guest Glenn]

Source: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20 ... 02,00.html

 

AUSTRALIA today signed to join the United States and other allies in the next phase of development and production of a costly new generation of warplane, the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)."The Joint Strike Fighter will see Australia through the next 30-40 years," Defence Minister Brendan Nelson said after signing the memorandum of understanding for the Canberra government at the State Department.

 

The ceremony was witnessed by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, who were also holding their annual bilateral ministerial conference here today.

 

Mr Nelson said the multi-role JSF, also known as the F-35 Lightning II, was "most certainly the correct aircraft for Australia in terms of combat and strike capabilities".

 

The agreement brings Australia into the "production, sustainment and follow-on development" phase of the $US270 billion ($344.81 billion) program to develop the JSF, which is scheduled to make its maiden flight this week.

 

Under the deal, Australia will be part of a coalition to cooperatively develop, produce, test, train and operate the JSF.

 

Australian officials have said a formal decision to actually purchase the combat aircraft will be made in 2008, with delivery set to begin in 2012.

 

The Government of Prime Minister John Howard, one of US President George W. Bush's closest allies, chose the JSF over a rival European fighter to replace the country's aging fleet of US F/A-18 fighters and F-111 bombers.

 

If confirmed, it is expected to be the biggest military procurement project in Australian history, worth at least $US11.5 billion ($14.69 billion).

 

Lockheed Martin is the main contractor for the aircraft, also known as the F-35, while Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems are main partners.

 

The US Defence Department plans to buy 2400 of the stealthy multi-role fighters, and international sales could account for another 2000 to 3500 aircraft.

 

Australia has been one of eight countries involved in the JSF program's development phase.

 

The Netherlands signed a similar memorandum of understanding last month, and Britain, slated to be the aircraft's main foreign buyer, is in talks to follow suit, despite anger over a Pentagon decision to cut funding for a back-up engine for the plane which would have been built by Rolls-Royce.

 

Denmark, Italy, Norway and Turkey have also been involved in the program.