Australian MoD backs $16bn fighter purchase

Published: Jun 26, 2006
Source: www.theaustralian.news.com.au



THE Defence Department retains full confidence in the $16billion Joint Strike Fighter, saying it is still the best choice for the RAAF's future air combat capability.

The Weekend Australian reported on Saturday that the JSF was beset with software problems and a cockpit display so bad it had to be almost completely redesigned.

The issues were found in risk assessments by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation last year that identified a number of development problems that threatened to undermine the performance of the next-generation fighter.

Defence said in a statement yesterday that "contrary to media reporting that the DSTO assessments showed the JSF program to be flawed, these assessments are a good example of best practice project management to identify risk and to take early steps to reduce or eliminate it".

It said the cockpit display system problem found by DSTO last year had been overcome. As a result of the risk assessments, a DSTO specialist had been posted to the US for full-time monitoring of JSF computing and software development.

DSTO was also buying specialised computer hardware in order for Australia to undertake its own assessments of performance milestones in the new fighter program.

The RAAF plans to buy up to 100 JSFs from 2012 to replace the F-111 strike force and eventually the F/A fighters.continue..