Defence Minister, Sen Robert Hill stated late yesterday that the RAAF F-111’s will be kept on untill 2020 and cited the Indonesian purchase of Su-30’s as the reason.
“The Super Flankers can take off in Java and strike at Alice Springs and then return without needing to refuel in mid air. This consitutes a problem in our defence force if we can not counter that” Sen Hill said.
He also went on to say that the only two planes that can counter such a aircraft in the region are the F-111 which is getting on now, or the American F/A-22 at least in it’s bomber version (Refering to the FB-22, which is in the planing stages now).
As a result of the announcement, the RAAF will be sending a team to the storage site at Davis-Mothan (AMRAC) to acquire more parts for the fleet.
———————————————————————————-
Looks like Australia will buy Raptors after all, if not in the FB role at least in the F/A role.
Sign In
September 16, 2003 at 10:03 pm