Coalition’s promised F-35s ‘need’ to go to the Territory, says IPA director John Storey

The Territory could receive a new batch of fifth-generation stealth jets if the federal opposition wins the looming election. Find out why the NT needs them.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton says he will deliver an extra 28 F-35 stealth jets if elected.

The Territory could receive a new batch of fifth-generation stealth jets if the Coalition wins the looming election, with Opposition leader Peter Dutton pledging $3bn towards beefing up Australia’s air power.

In his first major pre-election defence commitment, Mr Dutton announced he would reverse the Albanese Government’s decision last year to not buy an additional 28 stealth jets.

In April 2024, the Albanese Government halted plans to acquire extra stealth jets, citing the need to focus on a wider defence strategy, such as investing in long-range missiles.

The coalition have committed $3 billion to securing the extra jets. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Dutton confirmed a government under his leadership would splash up to $3bn to bump up Australia’s F-35A stocks from 72 to 100.

Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson did not reveal whether the $3bn payment would be from additional funding or drawn from other defence projects.

Currently, the Royal Australian Air Force share their 72 stealth jets between three operational squadrons.

One of the units operating the F-35A is No. 75 Squadron based at RAAF Base Tindal, near Katherine.

The remainder of the RAAF’s F-35As are situated at RAAF Base Williamtown, Newcastle, NSW.

IPA director of law and policy John Storey says the government should make an effort to procure the F-35B variant (pictured), which he claims would be suitable in northern Australia. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin.

Institute of Public Affairs director of law and policy John Storey welcomed the coalition’s pledge, but said any Australian Government should consider acquiring the stealth jet’s alternative variant, the F-35B.

“The F-35B, which is the short takeoff and landing variant of the F-35, is used extensively by the UK and US Marine Corps,” he told this masthead.

“And the advantage of that platform is that it can be used in makeshift and remote sites, not just large air bases.”

With Australia’s northern forces transitioning towards specialising in amphibious and littoral operations, Mr Storey said it would be “ideal” to house F-35B variants in either Darwin or Katherine.

“The Top End would be ideal for establishing (the new squadron), that means they can be deployed outside of large air bases that are prime targets in an actual shooting war,” he said.

“Either way though, they need to be deployed where they’re needed and that is the north.”

Mr Storey says such a procurement is not without risk. Picture: IPA.

Mr Storey warned the coalition not “to put all your eggs in one basket”, citing the various perils which lie in defence procurement.

“There are political risks, where some future president or prime minister pulls a pin (on the project),” he said.

“There are technical risks of whether Australia can even operate them and then there’s also a financial risk, which is that it ends up sucking up so much of the defence budget that it cannibalises other capabilities.”

Asked how urgent the stealth jets were to national security, Mr Storey said they were “needed yesterday”.

“The AUKUS submarines (for example) are a middle-of-the-century project - that’s fine, forward planning is great - but our defence is so run-down that need to be looking at things that we can do quickly to turn it around,” he said.

“The F-35 won’t suck up much of the defence budget, they’re not inordinately expensive, we do know how to operate them and they’re available off the shelf.”

Originally published as Coalition’s promised F-35s ‘need’ to go to the Territory, says IPA director John Storey