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New Australia Government Would Stick With Old Jet Plan

: Sep 10, 2013 - : 3:13 am

F-35_JSF

Australia’s conservative opposition, favored to regain power in this weekend’s election, won’t deviate from the Labor government’s plan to buy dozens of new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets, its leader said.

Coming at a time when the Labor and Liberal National parties are competing to demonstrate a willingness to restrain government spending, Tony Abbott’s remarks will comfort the fighter’s U.S. manufacturer, Lockheed Martin – already facing major defense budget cutbacks at home.

“We do believe that they’re the best aircraft for our future,” Mr. Abbott told reporters Monday, September 2, “If we want to be interoperable with our best ally, obviously it’s best if we’re using that same aircraft.”

Labor has plans to buy up to 100 F-35s, but has repeatedly complained to Washington about rising costs and delivery delays. Last year, Canberra storiesponed some purchases of the Lockheed fighters after China’s slowing economy crimped government revenue from commodity exports.

The average price of each plane has almost doubled to US$137 million since development began in 2001.

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