Continuing cost blowouts and delivery delays in the plan to purchase 100 US-built F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) have cast doubt over the future of Australia’s largest defence acquisition.

 

While cancelling or scaling back the $16 billion deal would see the Federal Government make substantial savings, Federal Defence Minister Stephen Smith has warned that such a move would compromise the country’s aerial defence capacities.

 

The JSFs purchase is designed to facilitate the phasing out of Australia’s aging F-18 Hornets and Super Hornets.

 

Mr Smith was involved in extensive meetings with US defence officials where he warned that the Federal Government would refuse to guarantee the full purchase in the event of a cost blowout beyond the costing limits set by the Government.

 

The plan has received broad criticism for its costings, with some defence analysists arguing that the plan should at least be suspended while the Australian Defence Force analyses future requirements of the Royal Australian Air Force.