Australia to outsource F-111 unit

Posted on: Mar. 14th, 2006 || Source: theaustralian.news.com.au | E-mail Article | Print Article

Due to delays in the Joint Strike Fighter program, Australia has no option but to postpone the F-111 Aardvark's retirement by several years. The Defence department came under fire recently, after releasing plans to retire the aircraft. A parliamentary committee has been told the gradual decommissioning of the 21 remaining F-111s is unwise.

THE Defence Department has been forced to call in private operators to maintain the engines of its ageing F-111 fleet and stop key ground crew taking jobs elsewhere at a time of uncertainty over the future of the planes.

As the aviation sector expands in southeast Queensland and companies search for more skilled workers, the Defence Materiel Organisation has moved to commercialise the F-111 engines business unit to keep staff at the Amberley air base.

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