Media Statement - 17th March 2007
The Howard Government’s air defence capability strategy is in tatters following revelations of a further cost blow-out in its hand-picked fifth generation Joint Strike Fighter.
The latest cost rise follows the Government’s decision to spend $6 billion on 24 fourth generation Super Hornets we may or may not need and which may or may not be up to the job.
The Prime Minister signed on to the $16 billion JSF project and made a decision to retire the RAAF’s F-111s early without proper consideration of the likelihood of delivery delays and cost blowouts.
As a result, the tax-payer now faces:
- The funding of a $6 billion election year political fix to protect the Government against a charge that an air capability gap is likely to emerge because of the late delivery of the JSF
- A huge blow-out in the cost of the JSF
- Uncertainty about Australia’s the air capability
The gravity of the situation now demands an immediate review of the Government’s air capability plan. The Government should also press the US Administration for access to the fifth generation F-22 Raptor to expand our air capability options.
The defence of our nation demands no less.