Australia Seen Delaying JSF Purchase on Budget Fears, Price Concerns
THE RAAF's plan to acquire up to 100 F-35 joint strike fighters faces a further delay until next year as budget pressures continue to bear down on the Rudd government.
In a long-awaited decision, cabinet's national security committee was due to sign off on the $16 billion purchase before Christmas.
But defence budget pressures and Defence Department concerns about Australia becoming the lead foreign customer for the initial production models of the F-35 fighter are expected to force a postponement until the new year of a government green light for the acquisition.
The expected delay in the NSC's consideration of the joint strike fighter purchase comes as an annual review undertaken by Pentagon analysts found the F-35 program could cost an additional $16bn and face a two-year slippage unless remedial action was taken. (end of excerpt)
Click here for the full article, on the The Australian website.
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Budget Fear Puts Off Buy-Up of F-35 Jets (excerpt)
