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F-35 development is progressing on firmer foundations.
Calling a spade a shovel
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F-35 boss’s frank language F-35’s best marketing boost yet
Firstly, an apology. Yes, this is yet another editorial about the F-35 and Super Hornet debate. If you are, understandably, tired of the debate, my apologies! But it is an important debate, and one that is reaching a critical decision point. At some stage in the coming weeks government will consider whether to procure another batch of Super Hornets, which, while Defence Minister Stephen Smith has never explicitly said, but logic suggests, would come at the expense of a similar number of F-35s. As discussed last issue, that would leave the RAAF with a fighter force structure a decade hence of 36 F/A-18F Super Hornets, 12 EA-18G Growlers and 50 or so F-35s, whereas, at least until the Growler debate gathered steam, the RAAF seemed on course for a 100-strong F-35 fleet.
Which way the government goes will largely depend on Minister Smith’s comfort level with the developmental and cost risk remaining in the F-35 program. Will the F-35, while still relatively early in its production run, be affordable and offer low technical risk? Given the history of the program those are reasonable questions that would be framing the government’s considerations, even before the events surrounding the Avalon airshow saw debate on the F-35 reach fever pitch.
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