Peter Dutton promises to spend $3 billion on new stealth jet fighters for Australia if elected

Peter Dutton has promised to spend $3bn on 28 new stealth jet fighters if elected, following the provocative live firing exercise by Chinese warships in the Tasman.

Peter Dutton has promised to spend $3bn on new stealth jet fighters for Australia.

In a major boost to the nation’s defence, Mr Dutton will on Sunday announce an election commitment to buy 28 F-35 Lightning strike fighters – the most advanced strike fighters in the world.

The new commitment follows an Albanese government decision to scrap the purchase of the 28 fighters in 2024 and signals Mr Dutton’s plan to make defence spending a major battleground in the election and follows the provocative live firing exercise by Chinese warships in the Tasman.

Mr Dutton told the Sunday Herald Sun if he is elected Prime Minister later this year his government would “immediately” commence negotiations with the aim of having the additional aircraft delivered within the next five years.

“F-35s are a multi-role fighter jet – air combat and ground attack – which makes them versatile,” he said.

Mr Dutton has unveiled plans to buy 28 F-35 Lightning strike fighters if elected. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Mr Dutton said Australia had long assessed the F-35A as the “most capable fighter jet” to meet Australia’s air power needs.

“They help deter or defeat threats to Australia’s interests and obviously strengthen our ability to respond to threats in our immediate region,” he said.

“This investment will bolster our air force and give it the ability to rapidly respond with flexible air combat options across large distances – enhancing access across the Indo-Pacific.

Australia had a commitment to buy 100 of the planes which was first announced by the Gillard government back in 2013 and maintained by the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison governments.

But in 2024 Albanese government announced it would not proceed with the agreement to buy the final 28 planes and would instead make do with 72 of the fighters.

The commitment to reaching full 100 would reinstate a longstanding plan to give the RAAF a fourth squadron of the F-35 Lightning II stealth strike fighters and while the new commitment is for $3bn, Coalition sources said the final price tag is likely to be more as the cost of the planes is likely to have risen since Labor cancelled the final 28.

Mr Dutton said Australia had long assessed the F-35A as the most capable fighter jet to meet Australia’s air power needs. Picture: John Gass

Manufactured by Lockeed Martin, the air combat and ground attack fighters is the most advanced fighter jet in the world and the backbone of USAF and the Israeli air force.

It has a maximum speed of 1960 km/h, a range of 2200km, fires sidewinder missiles, has a cannon that fires 3,300 rounds per minute and drops laser guided bombs.

The additional defence commitment comes days after a live-firing exercise by the Chinese navy forced dozens of commercial aircraft flying between Australia and New Zealand to change route and the revelation in Senate Estimates the Government would not meet its promise that defence spending as a share of GDP would reach 2.4 per cent by 2033-34 but would instead only get to 2.33 per cent.

“This last week has clearly demonstrated the Prime Minister’s inability to stand up for Australia’s national interests,” he said.

“I will strengthen our Australian Defence Force with the funding and the capabilities they require to keep Australians safe and secure.”

Originally published as Peter Dutton promises to spend $3 billion on new stealth jet fighters for Australia if elected