Two F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets have landed in Australia for the first time, arriving at Amberley air force base outside Brisbane on Monday.
Australia has committed to buy 72 of the planes in the country’s largest – and most controversial – defence purchase, in a deal worth about $17bn. The jets will be delivered between 2018 and 2023 at a cost per fighter of about US$90m.
The United States air force plans to buy 1,763 F-35 jets; the $379bn program to develop and builder the fighter is the Pentagon’s largest weapons project.
#breaking The controversial F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has landed in Australia for the first time at RAAF Base Amberley #avgeek @abcnews pic.twitter.com/EsjjVEtX0N
— Andrew Greene (@AndrewBGreene) February 27, 2017
But the project, which was launched in 2001, has been plagued by long delays, cost overruns of nearly 70% and technical problems.
Problems with the fighter jet have included issues with the radar software and increased risk of neck injury to lower-weight pilots when they eject from the aircraft. The jet was also reportedly outperformed by the F-16 fighter in a mock dogfight.
Suggestions by Donald Trump that the US may review or cut its F-35 joint strike fighter procurement caused experts to warn it could cause cost blowouts in Australia’s plans to buy the jet.
The F-35 program and cost is out of control. Billions of dollars can and will be saved on military (and other) purchases after January 20th.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2016
Australia’s first F-35 jets are now based at Luke air force base in Arizona, with four RAAF pilots training to fly the fifth-generation aircraft. The F-35 will replace the ageing FA-18A/B Classic Hornets.
The RAAF F-35s will be revealed to the public at the Avalon air show in Victoria at the weekend.
