Buy Raptor instead of JSF, says Labor

Posted on: Apr. 6th, 2006 || Source: theaustralian.news.com.au | E-mail Article | Print Article

LABOR wants the Government to review its plan to buy up to 100 joint strike fighters, arguing instead for the purchase of F/A-22 Raptor stealth fighters.

Labor's defence spokesman, Robert McClelland, says in a speech to be delivered at ANU's Strategic and Defence Studies Centre today that buying a smaller number of the tried and proven F/A-22s would address a possible gap in combat air power after the retirement of the F-111 bombers from 2010.

He says the Government has failed to provide sufficient detailed justification for the $12billion JSF purchase in preference to the more expensive F/A-22, including far more precise costings.

"In so far as cost has been a major issue in the decision to purchase the JSF over the

F/A-22, it appears that the cost differential between the two aircraft is significantly less than anticipated," he says..

Defence has estimated the fly-away cost of the JSF at about $US45million ($63million) while the F/A-22 fighters now in production cost about $US153million each.

Read the full article

• Boeing, US Navy Offer Super Hornet for Denmark Fighter Competition
• Boeing Awarded US Army Contract for 191 CH-47F Chinook Helicopters
• The Netherlands shows interest in Gripen
• 4th F-35 Lightning II Rolls Out As Production Line Fills Up At Lockheed
• Lockheed Martin C-5m Super Galaxy Completes Flight Test
• Air Guard Predator pilots increase combat air patrols
• Predator passes 400,000 hours
• Future Predator/Reaper Formal Training Unit announced
• Saab/Gripen team completes Hungarian offset contract
• South African Gripen deliveries on track
• Boeing Delivers Super Hornet Proposal to Brazil For F-X2 Competition
• Northrop to Support NASA's Global Hawk Earth Science Research Aircraft
• NATO forces a step closer to attaining C-17s
• Northrop, Rockwell Collins Prove Concept for New B-2 Cockpit Display
• Navy's BAMS UAS Program Begins After GAO Ruling