F-35 stealth fighter under intense attack

THE cost of Australia’s new F-35 stealth combat jets is set to soar as Canada threatens to abandon its purchase of the controversial aircraft. But it could go higher yet.

Turbulence ahead ... Canada’s assertion that it will abandon its purchase of the controversial F-35 Strike Fighter may mean increased costs for Australia. Source: Defence

THE cost of Australia’s new F-35 stealth combat jets is set to soar as Canada threatens to abandon its purchase of the controversial and trouble-prone aircraft. But it could go much higher yet.

The Abbott government last year said it would spend an additional $12 billion to secure a fleet of 72 of the ultra-advanced ‘flying supercomputers’ — even as doubts continued to grow over its ability to meet already significantly delayed performance deadlines.

But the newly elected Canadian government, under Liberal Party Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, went to the polls stating it would abandon its purchase of 65 of the yet-to-be completed, controversial fighters.

“We will not buy the F-35 stealth fighter-bomber,” Mr Trudeau said during the campaign. “We will immediately launch an open and transparent competition to replace the CF-18 fighter aircraft.

“The primary mission of our fighter aircraft should remain the defence of North America, not stealth first strike capability. We will reduce the procurement budget for replacing the CF-18s, and will instead purchase one of the many, lower-priced options that better match Canada’s defence needs.”

Canada’s withdrawal from the much delayed, vastly over-budget project looks set to place a greater burden on other customers — including Australia.

The US Air Force has now come out and stated such a withdrawal would add at least an extra $1.38 million to the $140 million price tag of each jet. That’s a total $100 million extra spend.

Canada had been set to cover 2 per cent of the aircraft’s development costs, a figure which would now have to be distributed among the eight international members of the fighter’s protracted development program.

ALL THINGS TO ALL PEOPLE?

The F-35 is being marketed as the world’s most capable combat jet — combining advanced stealth features with new radar jamming abilities, high agility, high speeds and groundbreaking new ‘sensor fusion’ technology which gives the pilot a comprehensive all-round picture of the battlefield.

This single airframe is supposed to replace a whole range of specialist aircraft currently in service, ranging from the air-superiority of the F-15 Eagle through to the ground-attack specialist A-10 Thunderbolt and the near-invisible first strike F-117 stealth fighter.

But many of the F-35’s diverse features remain as yet non-operational, and its performance figures — including speed, agility and payload — face intense questioning.

All systems go ... Former prime minister Tony Abbott as he tried out the cockpit of the F-35 fighter plane in Canberra last year. Source: AAP

The true full cost of the world’s most expensive defence project has long been a source of controversy: it has been placed at anywhere between $500 billion and $1 trillion.

And the international coalition shouldering that cost is beginning to look shaky.

Italy’s ability to buy the 90 aircraft it has committed to is looking increasingly doubtful as that nation continues to struggle under the European economic crisis. It has already shrunk its order from 131.

Prime Minister Trudeau says dumping the F-35 will free up cash to invest in other areas of defence — such as Canada’s deeply troubled Navy. The money would allow the creation of a new fleet of surface combatants, as well as new icebreakers and rescue ships.

Instead, Canada will be investigating significantly cheaper, self-defence oriented fighter aircraft such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, the French Rafale, Sweden’s Gripen and the Super Hornet.

MOUNTING FLAK

Many in the United States have been expressing their doubts about the success of the F-35 development program.

The Pentagon hopes to purchase 2457 examples in three versions of the advanced jet.

But recent reports from defence and government investigators have raised doubts over the aircraft’s safety and performance

An investigation by the National Security Network has also challenged claims of the F-35’s overwhelming superiority, arguing that — even if it lives up to its intense marketing campaign — these expectations are long out of date and inferior to what is being displayed in aircraft currently entering service in Russia and China.

Another new report is recommending the US Navy should abandon its purchase of the stealth fighter in favour of a fleet of advanced, semi-autonomous combat drones.

The success of this concept was recently proven with trials of the X-47B aboard US aircraft carriers.

Killer robot ... The US Navy’s X-47B unmanned combat jet during aircraft carrier trials off the US coast. Source: US Dept Defence

The Australian Defence Force earlier this week told a Senate inquiry that $17 billion had been earmarked for the purchase of F-35 Strike Fighters so far, but a total of $24 billion would eventually have to be spent on the machines.

An independent Canadian audit into the true cost of its proposed 65 F-35 fighter fleet produced a figure of $48 billion.

US Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford recently defended the aircraft as his troops took delivery of the first, partially-operational F-35B ‘jump jet’ variants.

“Fifth-generation fighter aircraft, including the F-35, are critical as we contend with the technological advancements of near-peer competitors … The Joint Strike Fighter is a vital component of our effort to ensure the Joint Force maintains dominance in the air,” he said. “Until the analysis (of its performance) is complete, we need to pursue the current scheduled quantity buy to preclude creating an overall near-term tactical fighter shortfall.”