having shoved JSF down our throats, now they try and tell us it was the RAAF’s decision so when we discover its a crappy export version with downgraded everything, they can say it was us! given recent defence procurement- Euro attack and transport helicopters, euro destroyer design and carrier design, euro sub and frigate design before that, euro tanker aircraft, euro rifles and machineguns. I truly believe Rafale and Typhoon had a chance! the only purchases we should of made from the US were wedgetail, abrams and E/A18G- no matter what the growler is a good plane- b ut is it betteer than maybe a a jammer filled 737 (4-5) jammers for commonality for wedgetail, or A-330 for commonality with the tanker? why was wedgetails systems not fitted to the A-330? could have 20 A-330’s filling multi-roles! or an A-330 variant similar in concept to the P-8! then the total would near 50! imagine the cost savings in maintenance and training! and an almost completed independence from US equipment

Anyone know projected weapons outfit? will it be similar to varyag’s missle outfit or will it be more reliant on airwing and have a more short range based defence?and they would have to be ski jump equipped wouldn’t they? or can the Su-33 be attached to a catapult?

slightly off topic, but would there be much need for a Su-34 Platypus or two seat Su-33 as a dedicated longrange strike platform? would it be hard? have the Su33’s carrier infrastructure onto the Su-34?

I doubt Australia would be protected by the US unless it suited them to.

But, as the Aus posters here have already told us, unless Australia can belt-strap the country to get a couple of squadrons of F-22s then their country is finished. One must then assume that Aussie emigration to the U.S, Canada, and South America will soon begin in haste, so, I will be investing heavily in real estate until that time comes.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA……. our country is not finished…..its always the big bullies who come crashing down…… our counrty will not fall down without F-22….our friendship with america will…… why would anyone move to the US… from Australia

it is not america you want on your side , its there technology. and if they dont want to share it with there closest allies, then get stuffed. For years I’VE ARGUED WITH PEOPLE WHO CALLED AMERICA SELFISH AND A BULLY! but if you cant even share with a friend, then we shouldn’t be friends. all that is being accomplished with JSF is Americas friends being asked to pay for its shiny new plane. you americans need to have a lesson in friendship. now I finally understand why my supeiors have been buying european. we can get what we want on negotiated terms, unlike america dictating the terms…….

I used to think of america and australia as friends, but your government sure has a strange way of treating its friends. I hope you can change for your sake.and ours

The best the USAF can hope for is another 60 F-22s. The Bush Admin, be it during the Rumsfeld or Gates DOD era, wasn’t big on it and was much more a fan of the F-35. Obama has decided to be GWB-III in this area so if another 60 get through it’s a victory for the line. The USAF will get them or some portion of them based upon Congressional support but after that it’s purely F-35 or Super Hornet based apart from Strike Eagle orders which will be all foreign at this time.

Japan isn’t going to get the F-22 and nor is Australia.

Both are better served buying the advanced versions of current aircraft, opting into the F-35, and getting more and better AEW and tanking. Australia seems to be following this line while Japan was still wanting to be a part of the upper tier status it had with the F-15.

It’s not happening anymore…….
I’m glad you know whats good for your allies….. sort of sums up americas attitude to its allies. you dont know what you want, we do. You cant have what you want….Japan and Australia have a mutual defence policy….. maybe we should dump america and look to the EU…….. Typhoon looks better all the time. considering our current and future needs, typhoon would handle anything up to F-35 an F-22 anyway…

I wonder how america would be without bases in japan and australia? because australia and japan are a big risk to pass on F-22 secrets……

I still don’t get this obsession-like death grip that some AUS posters have on the F-111. The Indonesian hordes, Vietnamese infantry, and Chinese navy are not waiting to rush the island of Australia the minute the last F-111 is retired from service……….Australia lived before and will after it is gone. And, it really is quite something that AUS is planning to add all the new assets in the pipeline, increase the number of combat airframes, and add new offensive navy capabilities all at the same time. A LOT of countries should be very jealous of them.

the F-111 stopped the East Timor intervention from turning into anything more serious. the RF-111C has a capability we will never have again. I dont know why you mention china and vietnam, we haven’t worried about that since 1973…..
But Indonesia? all conventional warfare training for australian forces is based on fighting Indonesia….. whether its when we finally liberate west papua, or a disintergration of order in Indonesia that leads to a military administration…

We all hope for peace, but to not prepare for war by having the best, we actually increase the chance of war:(

Every Austrailian except your department of defence staff, lol, Give it up.

you will find that most DoD staff agree with me, but F-35 purchase was part of a massive BOHICA package. ie: if you want to be our ally, you WILL by F-35……