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The Air Force’s long-held goal of a 100-strong F-35 air combat fleet is under question from a potential second Super Hornet sale
In announcing Australia was requesting pricing and availability for 24 extra Boeing Super Hornets, Defence Minister Stephen Smith has seemingly set in train the future composition of the RAAF fighter fleet – a mixed force of Super Hornets and F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.
The Minister told media in December that: “. . . we have no reservations about a potential combination of Super Hornets and Joint Strike Fighters because on any measure, that gives us a significant edge into the future in our part of the world, just as currently the combination of classics and Supers gives us that edge. ” The 2009 Defence White Paper’s reference to “up to” 100 F-35s has seemingly taken on new importance. The Minister said: “The commitment so far as Joint Strike Fighter was concerned in the 2009 White Paper was that the previous government and the current government were committed to the Joint Strike Fighter program; that we would look to the purchase of up to 100 Joint Strike Fighters, but the precise number would be subject to advised government decisions as we went. And the only decision that the government has made with respect to purchase of Joint Strike Fighters is we’re contractually committed to two. We’ll receive those in the United States for training purposes still on the 2014 timetable. And we’ve indicated publicly that we will also purchase an additional 12, our first tranche. That will essentially give us a squadron. ” Importantly, an additional 24 Super Hornet aircraft, bringing the total to 48 (36 Super Hornets and 12 EA-18G Growler variants) will mean only half of the RAAF’s air combat capability has been re-capitalised. This means Australia will still, eventually, need to invest in the purchase of the F-35, but in lower numbers than the 2009 White Paper suggests.
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