News Review: Australia signs for first batch of JSF | ADM Dec 09/Jan 10

1 January 2010

The Government has approved the acquisition of the first batch of Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft but the price does not include this country's access to source code for the aircraft's critical electronic systems.

Software will be updated at a special software support facility in Florida and distributed to JSF partner countries.

Defence Minister Senator John Faulkner told Parliament that the government would buy 14 of the advanced Lockheed Martin F-35 fighters at a cost of $3.2 billion.

The aircraft were expected to be ready for delivery in five years and would be in operation from 2018.

He said the acquisition of the next batch aircraft, to provide for three operational squadrons and a training squadron, totalling not fewer than 72 aircraft, would be considered in 2012.

An extra operational squadron, bringing the total number of aircraft to about 100, would be considered later.

Although details are yet to be revealed, the price for the first batch of fighters looks to be considerably more than previous estimates provided by the Defence Department.

In July last year the DMO's Stephen Gumley told Parliament: "I would be surprised if the JSF cost any more than $A75 million (per aircraft) in 2008 dollars at an exchange rate of 92 cents".