Australia wants the US F-22 Raptor for RAAF

[Ryan Ruck]

Australia wants the US F-22 Raptor for RAAF

THE Australian Government wants to include one of the world's most expensive fighter jets, the US-built F-22 Raptor, in its lineup of deadly weapons.

Russian-built Sukhoi and MiG fighters will also be on the table when Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon sits down with air force chiefs to review the nation's air combat capability.

Until now, US law has banned the export of the Raptor to any country, even close allies such as Australia, but Mr Fitzgibbon said he would take up the matter with the US.

"I intend to pursue American politicians for access to the Raptor," he said.

The Howard government all but signed up to the Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter.

But Labor has stepped back from buying $16 billion worth of the yet-to-be-built next-generation aircraft.

Mr Fitzgibbon has ordered a detailed review of all options for replacing the RAAF's ageing fleet of F-111s and F/A-18 Hornets.

When asked by the Herald Sun if the Russian-built war planes would be considered, he said all options would be included.

"The review should include a comparative analysis of everything on the market," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

"I'm not ruling out any option."

That would include the latest Russian Sukhoi 35 and MiG-29 fighters, which compare favourably on performance and very favourably on price with US-built planes.

In the early 1990s Sukhoi offered the government a fleet of its Flanker aircraft for less than the RAAF spent upgrading its existing fleets.

Politics and the ANZUS alliance with the US prevented serious consideration of the offers.

Both Sukhoi, with its Su-34 and 35 attack aircraft, and MiG, with its MiG-29 combat fighter, are in service with air forces around the world including India, China, North Korea, Burma, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Mr Fitzgibbon said the Government would also examine the decision by previous minister and new Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson to buy 24 Boeing Super Hornet fighters for $6 billion over 10 years.

The Government is heading for a major brawl with Boeing about under-performing projects worth $4.5 billion.

The Boeing contracts are on a "hit list" of 10 defence projects worth more than $11 billion that the Government and its military buying organisation have identified for urgent action.

The Seattle-based firm was represented in Australia by ex-Liberal leader Andrew Peacock, who won billions of taxpayer dollars worth of business for it.

Mr Fitzgibbon said he would strongly pursue American politicians to allow Australia access to the F-22 Raptor, despite the ban on foreign sales.

"We are well-placed to talk to Democrats on the Hill about it, and I want it to be part of the mix," he said.

The stealth aircraft, which are primarily designed for air superiority, are built by Lockheed Martin and Boeing and cost more than $150 million each.

The Lockheed Martin Joint Strike Fighter is predicted to cost about $70 million a plane.

Mr Fitzgibbon said he would not tolerate any delay in the JSF delivery or any increase in costs.

I am definitely not one to go letting our best secrets and technology go to just anyone but, I do think we need to be doing the same thing the Axis is and building up our own Allied block. We can do this by making some of our best weapons systems available to the staunchest of our allies like England, Australia, Japan, Canada, Israel, and a very few others.

[Ryan Ruck]

Australia Mulls F-22 Purchase In Airpower Re-Think

Australia may ask the United States to allow it to buy advanced stealth fighter aircraft in a re-think of airpower needs, as its Asian neighbours upgrade their air forces, the country's military commander said on Wednesday.

Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston told lawmakers in the upper house Senate that the government is considering buying F-22 Raptors, a $140 million fighter manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) but not yet cleared for overseas sale.

Australia's new Labor government has ordered a review of airpower requirements by May, amid media speculation it is preparing to dump a A$6 billion ($5.5 bln) purchase of 24 Super Hornet fighters from Boeing (BA.N: Quote, Profile, Research).

The Hornets, purchased by the previous conservative government, were planned as a stop-gap ahead of the delivery next decade of 100 F-35 multi-role strike aircraft, also made by Lockheed Martin.

Houston said the government may now prefer a mixed force of F-35s and the F-22 Raptors.

"It comes back to the question of whether you go for one multi-role platform to satisfy all your needs, or whether you go for a mix. If we bought some F-22s, we'd probably end up with some F-35s," Houston told a defence hearing in the parliament.

"I guess that's what the new government wants us to have a look at. I think nobody is suggesting F-22 or F-35."

The Super Hornet purchase has sparked a furore in Australia, with the government arguing their purchase was unnecessary and they would be outgunned in combat by advanced Russian aircraft used by neighbours like Malaysia and Indonesia.

Defence planners told senators that cancelling the contract in May would likely cost around A$600 million, as production of the aircraft by Boeing had already begun.

Australia, a close U.S. ally, is participating in development of the F-35, but has yet to sign a firm contract amid a broad military upgrade costing almost A$60 billion and including aircraft carriers, fighters, attack helicopters and missile destroyers.

Japan is also interested in purchasing the F-22, which is highly classified and would require an amendment in the U.S. Congress for export approval. ($1=A$1.09)

Australia has already been given the go-ahead from the US that they can purchase the F-22.