Australia is considering buying 18 Boeing-built Super Hornet warplanes for around $1.6 billion to plug a hole in defence capabilities left by expected delays in Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, a report said on Monday.
Australian defence officials plan to raise concerns about project delays and the possibility of a serious gap in Australia's air defences from 2020 onwards when they visit the United States this week, the Australian newspaper said.
Military chiefs were preparing options to plug the gap, including the A$1.5 billion ($1.6 billion) purchase of 18 extra F/A-18F Super Hornets, adding to 24 of the aircraft bought in 2007 to fill a strategic hole, the paper said, without naming sources.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/10/idUSL3E7FA0EN20110410
No surprise at us having to buy more planes to plug the gap due to delays with the JSF. From memory it was last year or the year before when America ordered more Super Hornets to cover there delays.
