SENATOR JOHN FAULKNER
Minister for Defence
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
051/2009
F-35 JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER—AUSTRALIA’S NEXT
GENERATION AIR POWER
The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, today announced that the
Australian Government had approved acquisition of the first batch of F-35
Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) aircraft as foreshadowed in the 2009 Defence White
Paper.
There has been considerable public interest in the potential acquisition of the
F-35 JSF. The Government examined the JSF’s capabilities very carefully in
the context of the Air Combat Capability Review and 2009 Defence White
Paper deliberations, and remains confident that the JSF’s combination of
stealth, advanced sensors, networking and data fusion capabilities, when
integrated into the networked Australian Defence Force (ADF), will ensure
Australia maintains its strategic capability advantage out to 2030.
The Government has approved acquisition of the first 14 Conventional Take-
Off and Landing (CTOL) Joint Strike Fighters and infrastructure and support
required for initial training and testing, at an estimated cost of $3.2 billion.
“Approval of this first batch of JSF aircraft is evidence of the Rudd
Government’s strong commitment to defence and our commitment to
implementing the Defence White Paper,” Senator Faulkner said.
Approval of the next batch of aircraft and all necessary support and enabling
capabilities, sufficient to establish three operational squadrons and a training
squadron of CTOL JSF, will be considered in 2012. This will fulfil our White
Paper commitment to acquire three operational squadrons comprising not
fewer than 72 aircraft.
“By 2012, Defence will have much firmer cost estimates for the remaining
aircraft and necessary support and enabling capabilities as part of the planned
first multi-year buy that is expected to comprise over 1000 aircraft for the US,
Australia and other partners. This will allow for much more effective planning
of the final JSF acquisition in the context of the overall Defence Capability
Plan,” Senator Faulkner said.
Acquisition of an additional operational squadron – bringing the total number
of JSF aircraft to around 100 – will be considered at a later date in conjunction
with a decision on the withdrawal of the F/A-18F Super Hornet.
Australia’s first JSF aircraft will be delivered in the United States in 2014 to
commence initial training and test activities. Australia’s first operational
squadron will be based at Royal Australian Air Force Base Williamtown, and is
planned to be ready for operations in 2018. All three operational squadrons
are planned to be in service in 2021.
The decision follows many years of unprecedented evaluation and planning
by all nine countries involved in the JSF’s development.
“Defence has done more analysis on this platform than any other platform in
the acquisition history of the ADF,” Senator Faulkner said.
Chief of the Air Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin said: “The JSF acquisition will
allow Australia to maintain its regional air combat superiority. It will also
enable Australia to effectively contribute to regional security and enhances
opportunities for interoperability and commonality to support future coalition
operations.”
To date, 25 Australian companies have won approximately US$200 million in
the development and early production phase of the JSF. As Australia and
other countries commit to JSF acquisition, significantly increased opportunities
for Australian industry will open up, as agreed in the Industry Participation
Plan with Lockheed Martin and its JSF industry partners.
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, Greg Combet said:
“Government and Industry will need to continue to work together as JSF Team
Australia to maximise benefits for Australian industry in the JSF Program in
the face of stiff international competition. Consideration of acquisition of the
next batch of aircraft in 2012 will provide Government the opportunity to
review Lockheed Martin’s progress on implementing the Industry Participation
Plan.
“It is important that where Australian companies offer value for money,
Lockheed Martin and its JSF industry partners give fair consideration to
Australian industry,” Minister Combet said.
The Government’s acquisition decision will also allow Lockheed Martin and its
JSF industry partners to establish formal relationships with Australian industry
to meet Australia’s defence self reliance requirements in supporting the JSF.
“Our commitment to the JSF will allow Australian industry to become
integrated into the global JSF support system, ensuring our aircraft are
supported in the most cost effective way. Commitment to the JSF also opens
up opportunities for Australian industry to contribute to regional and global
support of the JSF,” Minister Combet said.
The Program Manager, Air Vice-Marshal John Harvey said: “This acquisition
decision cements our commitment to the JSF Program and our commitment to
the US and other international partners to make the JSF Program a great
success.”
Media contacts:
Colin Campbell (John Faulkner):
02 6277 7800 or 0407 787 181
Defence Media Liaison:
02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
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