Issue 313: All In?

Decision time for RAAF F-35 Buy

Some time in the next few months, presumably before May’s federal budget, the new federal government will decide on the next steps in Australia’s acquisition of the F-35 as the RAAF’s next frontline fighter.

Of course we have been here before – in 2002 when we joined the program, in 2009 when the first batch of 14 was approved, in 2012 when all bar the first two jets of those 14 were delayed by two years, and in 2013 when it looked like the federal government was going to order as many as 36 Super Hornets and Growlers (with a likely commensurate reduction in F-35 numbers).