Buy Raptor instead of JSF, says Labor

Published: Apr 06, 2006
Source: www.theaustralian.news.com.au



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.continue..