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Last Super Hornets touch down under budget
Australia's last four Super Hornets will touch down at RAAF Amberley on Friday with all 24 aircraft now delivered ahead of the original schedule and for less than the contracted cost.
Defence company Boeing says that's a very good reason for Australia to consider buying more of the advanced multi-role combat aircraft, should Defence Minister Stephen Smith decide the late delivery of the Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) means a capability gap will emerge.
The head of Boeing Defense (Defense), Space and Security Dennis Muilenburg acknowledged the defence industry didn't always deliver on cost and schedule.
But he said the Super Hornet production line was one of the few in the world where each aircraft was costing less.
"The key thing here is we have a great deal of certainty around the Super Hornet," he told reporters in Canberra.
"We know exactly what it costs. We know exactly when it can be delivered. The technology is well in hand.
"It's the only 21st century fighter today that is being delivered on cost and schedule and it's the only one that has been proven in combat."
The former coalition government ordered 24 Super Hornets to fill a looming capability gap between the retirement of the RAAF's ageing F-111 strike bombers in 2010 and the entry to service of the first JSF squadron in 2018.
The RAAF will acquire up to 100 JSF aircraft in a deal worth some $16 billion, with the first due for delivery in 2014-15 and entry to operational service in 2018. Australia has so far contracted to buy an initial 14 aircraft.
Mr Smith has warned that delays with JSF were pushing likely delivery close to the buffers and a Plan B might need to be considered, most likely more Super Hornets.
He's set 2012 as the deadline for a decision.
Mr Muilenburg said Super Hornet was designed to be continually upgraded and the US Navy planned to use Super Hornets on its carriers out to 2035.
And he said Super Hornet would not be outclassed by the more stealthy JSF.
"There are a number of missions where the Super Hornet is a more capable airplane. There are missions where the F-35 is more suitable. It's important to see them as complementary aircraft," he said.
"That's the way our US forces are using them."
Last Super Hornets touch down under budget
Australia's last four Super Hornets will touch down at RAAF Amberley on Friday with all 24 aircraft now delivered ahead of the original schedule and for less than the contracted cost.
Defence company Boeing says that's a very good reason for Australia to consider buying more of the advanced multi-role combat aircraft, should Defence Minister Stephen Smith decide the late delivery of the Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) means a capability gap will emerge.
The head of Boeing Defense (Defense), Space and Security Dennis Muilenburg acknowledged the defence industry didn't always deliver on cost and schedule.
But he said the Super Hornet production line was one of the few in the world where each aircraft was costing less.
"The key thing here is we have a great deal of certainty around the Super Hornet," he told reporters in Canberra.
"We know exactly what it costs. We know exactly when it can be delivered. The technology is well in hand.
"It's the only 21st century fighter today that is being delivered on cost and schedule and it's the only one that has been proven in combat."
The former coalition government ordered 24 Super Hornets to fill a looming capability gap between the retirement of the RAAF's ageing F-111 strike bombers in 2010 and the entry to service of the first JSF squadron in 2018.
The RAAF will acquire up to 100 JSF aircraft in a deal worth some $16 billion, with the first due for delivery in 2014-15 and entry to operational service in 2018. Australia has so far contracted to buy an initial 14 aircraft.
Mr Smith has warned that delays with JSF were pushing likely delivery close to the buffers and a Plan B might need to be considered, most likely more Super Hornets.
He's set 2012 as the deadline for a decision.
Mr Muilenburg said Super Hornet was designed to be continually upgraded and the US Navy planned to use Super Hornets on its carriers out to 2035.
And he said Super Hornet would not be outclassed by the more stealthy JSF.
"There are a number of missions where the Super Hornet is a more capable airplane. There are missions where the F-35 is more suitable. It's important to see them as complementary aircraft," he said.
"That's the way our US forces are using them."
Last Super Hornets touch down under budget
